# Ruth Ellis, last woman executed in UK, given posthumous conditional pardon

The British government has granted a posthumous conditional pardon to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in the UK in 1955 for murder. The decision follows years of campaigning by her family, who argued she was a victim of domestic abuse. This symbolic move reignites debate around historical miscarriages of justice and capital punishment.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jul/08/ruth-ellis-last-woman-hanged-uk-posthumous-conditional-pardon) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:56:41 GMT