Most Tory supporters back death penalty

More than half of Conservatives back the death penalty as punishment for some serious crimes, a study of political activists has found.

Academics have branded Tories a “breed apart” after research found stark differences on a range of issues between the party’s supporters and Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP backers.

Conservative members also appear to be the most disillusioned about how they are treated by the leadership, according to Grassroots: Britain’s Party Members, published by the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London.

Tim Bale, professor of politics, said: “The Tory grassroots in particular are something of a breed apart from their Labour, Lib Dem and SNP counterparts.”

The report found Tory members are significantly more authoritarian than other party backers, with 54 per cent in favour of the death penalty, compared with 23 per cent of SNP supporters, 9 per cent of Labour activists and 8 per cent of Lib Dem backers.

Fourintenbacksame-sex marriage, but at least eight in ten members of other parties support it, according to the report based on polling by Yougov.