A Comparative Overview of Major Party Stances
The United Kingdom has some of the most stringent firearms laws globally, where ownership is considered a privilege, not a right. Policy debates often centre on the balance between public safety and the needs of legitimate users like farmers and sports shooters. This infographic explores where the main political parties stand on this complex issue.
OVERALL: Against, seeking tighter controls and higher costs.
The Labour Party advocates for stricter firearms control, framing it as a public safety and crime prevention issue. Their key proposal is to implement a full-cost recovery model for firearms licensing fees, intending to use the estimated £20 million raised to fund initiatives aimed at preventing youth crime, particularly knife crime in urban areas. This policy would significantly increase the cost of obtaining and renewing licences. Leaders have called for a rethink on shotgun ownership and stronger laws to prevent legally held guns from being misused, indicating a general direction towards making firearms ownership more difficult and expensive.
OVERALL: Against, historically favouring stricter control.
The Liberal Democrats have a history of supporting tighter gun control measures, including voting in favour of a total handgun ban following the Dunblane tragedy. While their recent manifestos have focused more on the international arms trade and nuclear deterrents, the party's foundational stance is one of prioritising public safety through strict regulation. They recognise the role of shooting in rural communities but have supported measures like banning certain types of hunting and burning on peatlands, which affects shooting-related land management. Their overall position leans towards stronger controls to minimise risk.
OVERALL: Supportive of status quo with targeted restrictions.
The Conservative Party generally supports the existing firearms licensing system, viewing it as one of the strictest in the world. They have shown a commitment to maintaining current laws, such as the Hunting Act, without significant changes. However, the party has also acted to ban specific types of high-powered firearms, such as .50 calibre rifles, citing police and counter-terrorism concerns. Their approach is one of incremental changes and targeted bans based on specific threats, rather than a broad overhaul of the licensing system that underpins legal shooting sports and rural activities.
OVERALL: Supportive, wants to relax current laws.
Reform UK, reflecting the views of its leader Nigel Farage, is critical of the UK's current firearms laws, particularly the ban on handguns, which Farage has labelled "ludicrous". The party's stance is that criminalising handguns has unfairly penalised law-abiding citizens, including Olympic athletes who must train abroad. Reform UK's official manifesto explicitly states a commitment to "Protect Country Sports," viewing them as beneficial for conservation, rural jobs, and local economies. The overall position is to relax certain restrictions and strongly support the rights of legal firearm owners for sporting and recreational purposes.
This chart illustrates the general policy direction of each party, from seeking significantly stricter controls to advocating for the relaxation of current laws. A higher score indicates a stronger focus on tightening regulations.
£20M
Labour's Proposed Fund
Labour proposes to raise firearms licensing fees to generate £20 million for youth crime prevention programmes.
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Reform UK's Country Sports Focus
Reform UK's manifesto includes a commitment to protect country sports, citing benefits for conservation and the rural economy.