Coffey speech sparks row over Keyham gun crackdown

Therese Coffey was giving a speech at a fringe event at the Conservative Conference

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has been accused by a Plymouth MP of "boasting" about blocking a crackdown on shotgun licences.

Ms Coffey referenced the Keyham shootings during a speech at a fringe event at the Tory Conference.

She told the British Association for Shooting and Conservation she had "stopped" changes that would have made it "harder" for them to have shotguns.

MP Luke Pollard called for an apology from Ms Coffey for the comments.

The Labour member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport said: "This debate needs to be conducted based on the evidence, based on the experience and not used for party political purposes.

"A senior politician like Therese Coffey making those claims and using, effectively, a party political platform to boast about it is something I don't think is right.

"That's why I think she should apologise."

The government held a public consultation over the summer after a mass shooting in Plymouth on 12 August 2021.

Jake Davison, 22, used a legally-held shotgun to kill his mother Maxine Davison, 51, and four others before shooting himself in the Keyham area of the city.

Floral tributes were laid following the shootings in Plymouth in August 2021

Several of the coroner's recommendations have been omitted from the consultation after being rejected by the government.

Earlier, Ms Coffey was reported to have told the event: "Shooting is really important in the countryside.

"It matters a lot and I can assure you the Conservatives are on your side.

"I appreciate there are journalists in the room so we'll see how this gets reported.

"Understandably there have been some serious incidents with shotguns in other parts of the country - the Plymouth murders and other elements like that.

"So there was the potential reaction... that would have made it much harder for you to have shotguns and I stopped it - I stopped that."

Mrs Coffey added: "It's about having a sensible partnership on this approach, recognising of course the police need to do their jobs well but also... I want to trust you.

"I do trust you because the future of the countryside is in your hands."

Therese Coffey is yet to respond to a request for comment.