Burnham Calls Idea Of Public Executions In The US 'Abhorrent'

Andy Burnham has called the idea of public executions in the US “abhorrent” as Donald Trump weighs up whether to livestream the death of a mass murderer.

Nidal Malik Hasan, a former US Army major who killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in a 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, is expected to be put to death by firing squad in December.

America’s defence secretary Pete Hegseth controversially declared on Thursday that he planned to make the execution available for public viewing.

Trump said he “wasn’t involved” in the livestreaming announcement but said he would make the final decision.

Speaking to The Rest is Politics podcast, UK prime minister Burnham criticised the idea.

He said: “I certainly would never support that. So I’m happy to make my view clear.”

Asked if Britain should take a stand against it, Burnham said: “I would also, though, say it’s not necessarily the same, then, as if we make what we stand for. You don’t have to go around providing, you know, constant running commentary on everybody else. Just be clear about what we stand for, what we believe is right and wrong. Let Britain stand for something in a world that seems to change every day.”

“It’s something that I can’t say I ever want to see anywhere in the world.

“ It’s something that I find quite abhorrent in many ways. But, you know, I only want to speak for what we will do, and why we will do it.”

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