JACK ELLIOT AND THE DEATH PENALTY

Early day motion 403, tabled 17 December 2002 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 129 members.

That this House notes the plight of Suffolk-born British national, Jack Elliot, who has been incarcerated on death row in Texas for 15 years, having been convicted of capital murder in January 1987; notes that Mr Elliot has been given an execution date of 4th February 2003; further notes that Mr Elliot steadfastly denies his guilt and insists he was the victim of police malpractice; affirms its support for the complete abolition of capital punishment; believes the death penalty to be a barbaric abuse of the rule of law, and constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment; notes that since 1985 the state of Texas has carried out 285 executions and granted only one reprieve; and urges the Government to make representations to the United States Federal and Texas State authorities and to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to plead for clemency for Jack Elliot.

Signatures by party: Labour 91, Liberal Democrat 21, Labour/Co-operative 6, Conservative 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.