Tory MPs criticise planned hikes in shotgun fees

A group of 50 MPs and peers has written to the home secretary Yvette Cooper over the government’s plans to significantly increase fees for gun licences.

Grants and renewals for shotgun and firearms certificates will more than double from 5 February under the new Home Office guidance.

A firearms certificate grant will increase from £88 to £198 next week, while a shotgun certificate grant will rise from £79.50 to £194.

See also: Gun licence holders told not to avoid mental health support

Chris Philp, Conservative MP and shadow home secretary, says the increases are “hugely exorbitant” and will put further pressure on hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas.

He said: “Inflation since 2015 has been 35%, meaning these increases are up to a disproportionate 4.5 times inflation.

“This is wholly unjustified and only adds insult to injury for the hard-working people in rural communities whose livelihoods the Labour government has already threatened.”

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Shooting and Conservation have also spoken out over a complete lack of consultation on the increase ahead of the announcement, and have asked the home secretary to attend the group’s next meeting on 11 March.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, Conservative MP and chairman of the APPG, said the increases were “completely unacceptable” and “another attack on rural communities”, following on from changes to agricultural property relief on inheritance tax in the Autumn Budget.

He added: “I sincerely hope that as a result of bringing this to the attention of the home secretary, she will reconsider the level of fee increases and ensure all police forces offer a quick and efficient service.”

A number of other suggestions were raised in the open letter, such as ring-fencing income from licence fees specifically for use by firearms licensing departments.