Some context for the death penalty debate

Something quite remarkable has happened over the past couple of the days. It started with the launch of the government’s new e-petition site, which promises that any petition which secures 100,000 signatures will be “eligible for debate in the House of Commons”. And it continued with Guido Fawkes submitting a petition to reinstate the death penalty for “the murder of children and police officers when killed in the line of duty.” Now national newspapers and MPs alike are adding their voice to Guido’s campaign. And an issue that has huge public resonance, but which is rarely discussed in Westminster, is suddenly getting an airing. Even if — like me — you don’t agree with the death penalty, there is still something encouragingly open and democratic about it all.

How far that popular tide will push, it’s hard to tell. From the sounds of it, it’s not certain that a petition will be voted on in the Commons even if it does achieve 100,000 signatures.