Mr Campbell says the death penalty is appropriate in certain circumstances

The East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has said he supports the reintroduction of the death penalty.

The DUP MP was speaking during a House of Commons debate on a world-wide ban on capital punishment.

He said there were circumstances when the death penalty, implemented within a robust legal framework, was an appropriate form of punishment.

He claimed mass murderers like Ian Brady have sacrificed their right to life.

"There are times when the death penalty, operated within a robust legal framework, is an appropriate form of punishment," Mr Campbell said.

"We can all think of mass murderers who through their evil acts forfeited their right to life.

"I have no compunction at all in saying that someone like Ian Brady, the Moors Murderer who murdered five innocent children has forfeited their right to live through their actions."

Mr Campbell said there was a cosy political consensus to deny the people of the UK their wishes, adding polls regularly showed a majority in the UK favoured the death penalty for crimes like premeditated murder.

The MP said it would only be used as a punishment for the most serious crimes carried out by serial offenders.

But he said there was little chance the death penalty would be reintroduced in the UK because of the "cosy consensus" amongst politicians, even though he said opinion polls show the majority of people agree with him.