On 30 January 2025, I was pleased to sign a letter, co-authored by the Shadow Home Secretary and the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation, to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to oppose the proposed 245 per cent increase to shotgun certifications.
In a letter open to signatories from all parties, they have described the increases as ‘exorbitant’. This follows news that the Government plans to increase the fees for owning a licenced firearm by 4.5 times inflation since 2015 (when the fees were last set).
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, says:
“These are hugely exorbitant increases and will put pressure on hundreds of thousands of people in rural communities who have already suffered under this government’s choices.
“Labour are increasing a shotgun certificate grant from £79.50 to £194 – 244% of the current fee, while a shotgun certificate renewal will increase from £49 to £126 – 257% of today’s fee.
“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.”
Please find a copy of the letter attached.
