Firearms licensing was a subject of debate for MPs in Westminster Hall on 28 January 2026, specifically the use of digital markers on firearms licensees’ medical records. Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, brought forward a motion that the application of ‘medical markers’ on patient records by GPs should be made a mandatory practice.
The Countryside Alliance supports the mandating of medical markers and briefed MPs on the issue ahead of the debate. All MPs in attendance, except the government and opposition spokesmen, supported this motion and acknowledged the great benefits that shooting brings to the UK.
MPs Helen Maguire, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Edward Morello, Rachel Gilmour made speeches which highlighted the logic and pragmatism of mandatory medical markers. There is no downside or cost, but there is a great benefit in a reduction in risk that those who should not hold firearms can acquire them.
Mike Tapp MP, government spokesman for the Home Office, acknowledged the arguments made throughout the debate but insisted that available evidence does not compel the government to make medical markers compulsory. He stated that data for use of medical markers was in line with expectations. Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown made the excellent point that if there is not 100% use of medical markers, as is the present situation, there is weakness in the system and public safety is undermined.
The government has missed an opportunity by choosing not to make medical markers compulsory. Liberal Democrat spokesman Edward Morello MP highlighted that by not mandating medical markers, the government is needlessly perpetuating an unquantifiable risk of another tragedy. If such a tragedy were to occur that could have been preventable through the implementation of mandatory medical markers, the blame would rightly be laid at the feet of this government.
One stumbling block for the mandating of medical markers is the position of the British Medical Association, which encourages the use of medical markers, but will not accept the compulsion of GPs to use them. It is hoped that, with continued pressure from those representing the countryside, progress can be made in this regard.
As the Conservative spokesman, Gregory Stafford MP, rightly said, shotguns are an essential part of the countryside, used in land management and crop protection, as well as for game and clay pigeon shooting; it is therefore essential that the licensing of them is fit for purpose.
The government is soon to launch its consultation on restricting shotgun ownership through alignment of their licensing with that for Section 1 firearms. The government would be wise to acknowledge that such alignment would not improve public safety, but that mandating the use of medical markers for GPs and the formation of single centralised licensing body would.