Crazy to own a gun?

Chris Williamson caused a stir in certain quarters last week after asking whether there shouldn’t be a total ban on all private gun ownership.

Not yet content, Labour’s Derby North MP has now written to the Home Secretary suggesting several measures he thinks should be included in reviewed firearms legislation.

These include:

• Mental health examinations for anyone wanting any gun licence.
• A requirement that when any person applies for a gun licence their GP be notified.
• A public register of all gun owners so that “the community” can notify the authorities if an individual starts “displaying signs of unsuitability”.
• Compulsory training and examinations for gun licence applicants.

Coincidentally, if the first measure was ever implemented it would mean certain licence holding members of the Tory benches would have to undergo mental health checks.

I’ve no doubt that the irritation this will cause the gun-lobby on the opposite benches has not escaped Williamson. But if it’s not enough he adds at the end of his letter…

“I therefore trust you [the Home Secretary] will not be cowed by those who have a vested interest and are attempting to close off any debate about strengthening firearms legislation.”

I await the return fire.

Suspicious minds

I’ve a feeling all these negotiations will start to get ever edgier today.

It’s reaching that point in the courtship when the suitors get tired of bringing flowers and choccies and instead grab their prize by her enlaced arm and demand “what do you want from me woman?”

But even if a Tory or Labour party leader manages to come to some sort of arrangement with the Lib Dems, I’m getting the impression they may not be able to take their MPs with them.

Chris Williamson, the new Labour MP for Derby North (above), told me last night that he found the Lib Dems “untrustworthy” as a party.

“What’s clear from their desire to form an alliance with the Conservatives is that they are not the face of progressive change,” he said.

Of course he said a Labour influenced government would be better than the Tories, but it hardly points to the possibility of a harmonious progressive alliance.

Meanwhile on the Tory side I’ve spoken to several MPs who’d prefer Cameron to stop meaningfully negotiating with the Lib Dems, sit back, hold his nerve and let the Lib/Lab pact fail on its own.

They’re sure it would, and as long as it was made to look as though they had tried to negotiate with the Lib Dems they could then run a minority Government from the moral high ground.

They could even have another election which they’re sure they’d win because they think people would be dismayed with the way the Lib/Lab coalition has tried to “betray” the election result.

There is also the matter of money, surely only the Tories could afford another election.

Some of this is born out of a fear that the Alternative Vote system, which might come about if Cameron teams up with the Lib Dems, could rob the Tories of seats.

The thing is there must also be a gaggle of Tory MPs who are unwilling to go down the minority Government/election route because they have only just won their seats with small majorities.

Another fraught day ahead.