United Kingdom
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- unwritten, partly common law, partly customs and statutes
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on common law traditions with some influences from the modern Roman and continental system, acts of Parliament are not reviewed by the judiciary
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, House of Commons and House of Lords
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- House of Lords (is the highest court of appeal) some Lords are appointed for life by the Queen
RELIGIONS
Christians 59.5%, Muslims 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, others 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7%
From the country
- JANUARY 16, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The growing diplomatic row over the al-Qaeda prisoners...
The growing diplomatic row over the al-Qaeda prisoners being held in Cuba intensified as the United Nations demanded that the detainees' human rights were respected
- JANUARY 15, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw warned US authorities...
UK Home Secretary Jack Straw warned US authorities not to execute British citizens suspected of fighting for Osama bin Laden
- JANUARY 15, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, said the transfer...
Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, said the transfer of British nationals suspected of fighting with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan to Cuba was legal but they had to be treated "with proper respect for international law
- JANUARY 14, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Three British al-Qaeda fighters are facing the death penalty
Three British al-Qaeda fighters are facing the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty for murder was abolished in Britain...
The death penalty for murder was abolished in Britain on December 18, 1969
- JANUARY 1, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The abolition of the death penalty begun in 1965 when...
The abolition of the death penalty begun in 1965 when hanging stopped being the punishment for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
There were 865 executions in Britain between 1900 and...
There were 865 executions in Britain between 1900 and 1964, the date of the last execution
- JANUARY 1, 2002United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The last vote for the reintroduction of capital punishment...
The last vote for the reintroduction of capital punishment was defeated in the House of Commons by 403 votes to 159 - a majority of 244
- DECEMBER 24, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram, said:...
The shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram, said: " I look at every issue on its merit, and on capital punishment I voted for it in two very clear categories: indiscriminate terrorism where the bomber doesn't care whom he is killing, and I think that's a
- DECEMBER 18, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Staff and students at a Birmingham university are to...
Staff and students at a Birmingham university are to help carry out a major study of death penalty practices across America following a cash boost from the British Government
- DECEMBER 18, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Staff and students at a Birmingham university are to...
Staff and students at a Birmingham university are to help carry out a major study of death penalty practices across America following a cash boost from the British Government
- DECEMBER 15, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The uncle of murdered Turkish asylum seeker Firsat...
The uncle of murdered Turkish asylum seeker Firsat Dag called for the return of capital punishment, after the High Court in Glasgow condemned Scott Burrell to a minimum of 14 years