Today [30th January 2025] the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP has joined the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation (APPG), Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP in writing 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 Labour 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, MP for Croydon South and 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.”
Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, MP for North Cotswolds and Co Chair of the APPG for Shooting and Conservation, says:
“These extortionate fee increases imposed by the Government without any consultation are completely unacceptable.
“Following on from the family farm tax, this is yet another attack on the rural communities.
“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 that all police forces offer a quick and efficient service.”
“I look forward to discussing this further with her.”
The letter to the Home Secretary is pictured below:
