Ruth Ellis granted posthumous conditional pardon
The UK government granted a conditional pardon to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in Britain, recognizing she was a victim of domestic abuse and should not have been executed.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, has been granted a posthumous conditional pardon by the UK government. The announcement was made in Parliament on the day of the report. The pardon, which has the approval of the King, does not claim that Ellis was innocent of murdering her lover David Blakely in 1955. Instead, it replaces the death sentence with a life imprisonment term, acknowledging that she was a victim of severe domestic abuse and that her execution was a profound injustice.
Ellis was executed in 1955 at the age of 28 after being convicted of shooting Blakely outside a pub in North London. At her trial, the judge instructed the jury to disregard the fact that she had been badly treated by Blakely. Her grandchildren, Laura Enston and Stephen Beard, have campaigned for decades to have the murder conviction overturned, arguing that Ellis suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of Blakely, which led to a miscarriage. They were present in the Commons gallery when the pardon was announced.
The case was raised in the House of Commons by Labour MP Pam Cox during Prime Minister's Questions. The Justice Minister (and Deputy Prime Minister) David Lamy confirmed the pardon, saying: 'While the pardon does not claim she was innocent of killing David Blakely, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognise a profound injustice in this exceptional case.' He added that the government hoped the decision would bring 'a measure of peace' to the family, who have 'carried the weight of what happened to her for over 70 years.'
The decision marks a significant shift in public and legal attitudes towards domestic abuse and coercive control, which were not recognised as mitigating factors at the time of Ellis's trial. Campaigners have noted that while progress has been made, the justice system still fails many victims of domestic violence today. The pardon does not overturn the conviction but formally acknowledges that the death penalty was an inappropriate punishment given the circumstances.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth Ellis was executed in 1955 after being convicted of murdering her lover David Blakely. | |||
| A conditional pardon was granted to Ruth Ellis. | · | ||
| Ruth Ellis suffered domestic abuse from her partner David Blakely, and her grandchildren campaigned for her conviction to be overturned. | · | ||
| At Ruth Ellis's trial, the judge instructed the jury to disregard the abuse she suffered. | · | · | |
| Ruth Ellis's family were in the Commons gallery to witness the announcement of the pardon. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel presents the story as a straightforward government announcement within a broader news bulletin. It includes a direct quote from the minister and notes the grandchildren's presence in the gallery, but does not delve into emotional or historical context. The tone is neutral and factual.
- “His Majesty the King has accepted our advice to grant Ruth Ellis a conditional pardon, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom.”
- “While the pardon does not claim she was innocent of killing David Blakley, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognise a profound injustice in this exceptional case.”
Sky News frames the announcement as an unexpected but significant moment at the end of PMQs. It highlights the role of Labour MP Pam Cox and includes details of the abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and a miscarriage. The tone is slightly dramatic, using phrases like 'haunting reminder' and 'big moment'.
- “this was a little bit unexpected, but a big moment at the end of PMQs with her family, her grandchildren, at watching in the gallery.”
- “her case serves as a haunting reminder of a time when our justice system ignored the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control.”
This is a concise, no-frills report that states the key facts: the pardon, the execution details, and the grandchildren's argument. It includes the minister's quote about replacing the death penalty. The tone is neutral and brief, with no additional context or emotional framing.
- “Ruth Ellis the last woman to be hanged in the UK has been granted a posthumous conditional pardon”
- “The Justice Minister David Lamy told MPs the pardon replaced the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognize a profound injustice”
ITV provides the most in-depth and emotional coverage, emphasizing the 70-year wait and the transformation in thinking. It includes family reaction, a reference to an ITV drama, and an interview with the judge's grandson. The tone is reflective and humanizing, focusing on the personal and historical significance.
- “It has taken 70 years and a transformation in thinking, but the government has now accepted that the last woman to be hanged in Britain, Ruth Ellis, should never have suffered the death penalty.”
- “This pardon does not undo what happened 71 years ago, but it says, formally and finally, that Ruth should not have been executed.”
- “The shadow of Ruth's execution has fallen across two generations. We have carried shame that was never ours to bear.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.