A WEST Midlands MEP is today calling for Britain to bring back the death penalty - saying the "most evil" of criminals deserve it.

Bill Etheridge, who is bidding to become next UKIP leader, says he wants a referendum to give people a say on reintroducing it into law.

The politician has even highlighted the case of Fusilier Lee Rigby's killers, telling the Worcester News that is the sort of "treacherous" crime where the culprits should be killed.

His comments have sparked a wave of controversy, with rival political parties in the region asking why he favours a policy backed in North Korea.

But Mr Etheridge told this newspaper "the establishment does not understand normal people", claiming most members of the public would support it.

He says the likes of child rapists, murderers and terrorists do not deserve to live once their crimes have been proved beyond any doubt.

"Just because a policy is 'popular' does not mean it is wrong - this is something where I feel the establishment does not understand normal people," he said.

"I would only support the death penalty for the most evil and treacherous of crimes out there.

"The killers of Lee Rigby spring to mind, where what they did was so appalling this is the only sentence that fits what they did.

"It would not be used very often at all, I say let the people decide and give them the say."

Lee Rigby was hacked to death in Woolwich, southeast London by demented fundamentalists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale three years ago, with the pair serving life in jail.

Mr Etheridge, who was first elected at the 2014 elections as an MEP, also told the Worcester News as much as "50 per cent" of fellow UKIP members may disagree with him on the death penalty.

"I know there will be many colleagues in the party who passionately disagree with the policy, that's fine, all I want is an open discussion about it," he said.

"And if it didn't get supported in a referendum I'd be pushing for a policy where life means life."

The last hanging in Britain took place in 1964, and following that all people 'sentenced to hang' were reprieved.

The UK death penalty was officially abolished in 1969 following a vote by MPs.