Responding to Priti Patel’s announcement that the Government will bring forward statutory guidance on firearms licensing, Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Home Affairs Brian Paddick said: “It shouldn’t have taken the tragic shootings in Plymouth for the Home Secretary to finally strengthen gun licensing checks.
“Experts have been calling for new statutory guidance for six years, and Parliament legislated for it more than four years ago. Priti Patel’s failure to introduce it until now is unforgivable.
“The first duty of the Government is to keep people safe. That means acting quickly and decisively on expert advice, not waiting for the next tragedy to force it into action.”