I am an expert in legal history and contemporary legislation, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom. It is my pleasure to provide you with a detailed answer regarding the death penalty in Britain.

Capital punishment has been a subject of significant debate and change over the years in the UK. Historically, the death penalty was a common form of punishment for a variety of crimes, ranging from treason to murder. However, the use of capital punishment in Britain has undergone a significant transformation, culminating in its complete abolition.

The last executions in the UK, as you correctly pointed out, were carried out by hanging and took place in 1964. This marked the end of an era, as the death penalty was abolished for murder in Great Britain in 1965. The journey towards abolition was not a straightforward one. It involved various legal and societal shifts, including the influence of the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK ratified in 1951, and the growing public sentiment against the death penalty.

The movement towards abolition was further solidified in 1998 when the Human Rights Act was incorporated into UK law. This act, which enshrined the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights, made it unlawful for the UK to reintroduce the death penalty. The final step in the process of abolition came in 1998 when the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1995 was passed, which abolished the death penalty for all remaining crimes in Scotland.

It is important to note that while the death penalty was abolished for murder in Great Britain in 1965, it remained a legal punishment for treason and certain other crimes until 1998. The complete and total abolition of capital punishment in the UK came with the passage of the Human Rights Act 1998, which made it impossible for the death penalty to be reintroduced under any circumstances.

The UK's stance on the death penalty is now firmly against it, both domestically and internationally. The government actively opposes the use of capital punishment and works with other nations to promote its abolition worldwide. This position is rooted in the belief that the death penalty is a violation of the right to life, as stated in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In conclusion, the death penalty is no longer a part of the British legal system. The journey to abolition was a long and complex one, influenced by legal, societal, and international factors. Today, the UK stands as a staunch advocate for the abolition of capital punishment, both within its borders and on the global stage.

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Capital punishment in the United Kingdom was used from ancient times until the second half of the 20th century. The last executions in the United Kingdom were by hanging, and took place in 1964, prior to capital punishment being abolished for murder (in 1965 in Great Britain and in 1973 in Northern Ireland).read more >>