Prime Minister David Cameron has been accused of breaking ministerial rules and an abuse of power in his veto of a price increase for gun licenses.
A gun license costs £50, but according to police it costs them £196 to issue the permit, and ministers were planning on increasing the price to around £200 reflect its cost. However, Cameron stepped in and vetoed the increase, a move that the Home Office minister responsible for issuing the licenses, Lib Dem Norman Baker, described as “difficult to justify”.
Baker went on to say:
“Why should the police subsidise the issuing of licences for firearms? We are driving greater efficiencies in the way the police handle applications, which will bring the cost of issuing down, but firearms users also need to pay a fair amount, which is not happening at the moment. I hope to be able to reach a sensible outcome in the near future.”
The Lib Dem is not the only one that sees a conflict of interest in Cameron’s actions, and Labour MP Chris Williamson has written to cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to demand an investigation into whether the prime minister broke ministerial rules in blocking the price rise, saying:
“The message this sends out at a time of drastic public spending cuts to the police service and elsewhere is disturbing.
…
I believe his actions indicate a clear abuse of his power and position to benefit a controversial activity that does not command public support from which he and his pro-gun associates will benefit. In view of his involvement in shooting, the prime minister should have stayed well clear of this issue and allowed others to take a lead
