Keyham response dismays Plymouth MP

GOVERNMENT REJECTS CORONER'S PLEA

A PLYMOUTH MP has slammed the Government for refusing to implement the full recommendations of Plymouth’s Coroner, following the inquest into the Keyham shootings.

Labour MP Luke Pollard said it was totally unacceptable that the Home Office had rejected the Coroner’s call for “root and branch reform” of gun laws and instead had only agreed to a consultation on the recommendations.

In a written statement to Parliament, Home Office minister Chris Philp said the Government would not immediately accept all the recommendations made by Ian Arrow, the senior coroner for Plymouth and South Devon, following the killings.

Mr Philp said the Government had “decided not to proceed with recommendations on aligning shotgun and firearms legislation”, but added it would move forward “straight away” on new training for police firearms licensing teams.

Mr Philp said: “Shotguns are already subject to significant controls, and they are important in helping farmers control vermin on their land, as well as being used in a variety of rural pursuits.