Almost 50% Of UK Students Want To Bring Back The Death Penalty

Britain's younger generation is often viewed as more progressive than older voters, but a new survey has challenged that assumption after revealing that almost half of university students support bringing back the death penalty.

The findings are likely to spark debate across the country, including in Newcastle, home to thousands of students studying at Newcastle University and Northumbria University, where discussions around law, politics and criminal justice remain regular topics on campus.

Students split over capital punishment.

A new Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) survey of 1,018 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 21 found that 47 percent support restoring capital punishment, while 46 percent oppose it in all circumstances. The results closely mirror wider public opinion, with previous national polling showing around half of UK adults also favour the return of the death penalty.

Capital punishment for murder was abolished across Britain in 1969, with the country's final executions taking place in 1964. Although there is no current Government proposal to restore it, the issue continues to generate strong public interest whenever serious violent crime dominates the headlines.

Newcastle debate could continue.

The poll is expected to fuel conversations in university cities such as Newcastle, where thousands of young adults from across the UK bring a wide range of political and social views to local campuses each year.

Academics have frequently argued that universities expose students to diverse opinions, making surveys like this particularly interesting because they challenge stereotypes about younger generations holding universally liberal views.

Nick Hillman, Chief Executive of HEPI, said the research was designed to test assumptions about student attitudes during ongoing debates surrounding free speech and political division on university campuses.

Wider issues reveal divided opinions.

The survey also examined views on several other controversial topics. Around 72 percent of students supported unilateral nuclear disarmament, while approximately six in ten backed a wealth tax. Students were also divided on international conflicts and wider social policy questions, highlighting how opinions among younger voters are far from uniform.

Rather than presenting one consistent political viewpoint, the findings suggest many students hold a mixture of conservative and progressive positions depending on the issue being discussed.

Statistics readers may find interesting.

The HEPI survey questioned 1,018 undergraduates aged 18 to 21 during May 2026 using polling company Savanta.

Across the United States, the death penalty remains legal in 27 states, although its use has continued to decline in recent years. Public support has also fallen to its lowest level in more than five decades, according to Gallup research.

While Britain abolished capital punishment decades ago, the latest polling demonstrates the issue remains capable of dividing public opinion. Whether opinions among students remain stable over time will be closely watched, particularly in major university cities such as Newcastle, where future political and community leaders are shaping their views.

Share your views in the comments below.

Do you think bringing the death penalty back is something that should be considered?