Last ditch appeal on guns

WAR re-enactors are making a last ditch appeal to the Home Office to permit them to take their deactivated weapons to France to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

British re-enactors travelling to France to recreate ‘going over the top’ on July 1 face leaving their rifles at home due to a new EU firearms standard.

However, Scott Knowles, a member of The Great War Society who has been campaigning to get special dispensation, says that Brussels and the French Ambassador have given the group their blessing - and only the Home Office is standing in their way.

Scott said: “All the way along the Home Office have said no. They are ignoring the statements from the ambassador and commissioner who are happy for us to take the guns as they are with their current paperwork because they understand our aims. For some reason the Home Office are obstructing that commemoration.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said: “I have written to Theresa May to ask her to clarify the situation with the EU firearms directive, and why they are still putting barriers in the way concerning the Accrington Pals centenary.

“It matters because they are going to go over the top without rifles.

“It’s a joke. It won’t fulfil the commemorative purpose. I hope they will see sense and back down.”

The Home Office has said they are determined to keep the UK’s stringent gun laws in place and tackle the supply of illegal firearms across the EU.

Their spokesperson said: “Re-enactment groups may travel with their deactivated firearms to France provided they meet the standards that came into force on April 8 this year. We have been working with the UK Proof Houses to ensure that certification to the new standards can be done quickly, prior to the Somme commemorations”