Tougher line to be taken on Cullen

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE IN BLACKPOOL

Tony Blair will today harden Labour's policy against handguns by making it clear he would reject the report by Lord Cullen into the Dunblane killings if it recommends limited curbs.

The party leader will use his keynote speech to give a pledge that a Labour government will ban all handguns over .22 calibre sporting weapons from private ownership and gun clubs.

Lord Cullen has agreed not to deliver his report until after the conference season is over, to avoid it becoming a party political issue. But there is strong speculation that he will recommend a partial ban, allowing clubs to keep high-calibre weapons of the type used by Thomas Hamilton to kill 16 children and a teacher in Dunblane before shooting himself.

John Major has promised legislation in the next Queen's Speech, and Tory sources have hinted that like Mr Blair, he might be prepared to go further than the Cullen recommendations by seeking a total ban on the weapons.

The Home Secretary, Michael Howard, is believed to be sceptical about such a move. Mr Major and Mr Blair visited the scene of the tragedy together in an act of cross-party solidarity with the parents of the victims. Mr Blair will recall the visit in his speech today, but his intervention will mark Labour out as the party which is tough on gun laws.

Jack Straw, the shadow Home Secretary, has led the way in warning that Labour would ban handguns from private possession, and clubs, if it was recommended by Cullen. But Mr Blair will go further in leaving little doubt that he would be prepared to overrule the Cullen recommendations, if they fail to propose a total ban on large magnum guns.

Politically, Labour believes it will also prove a powerful vote winner with the public, and give a sharp edge to Labour's law-and-order policies, in contrast to the Tories who are divided over the issue.

The gun lobby will be in evidence next week at the Tory party conference, pressing the Government not to impose a ban on clubs who keep handguns.

Lord Cullen is reported to have decided to recommend banning handguns from private ownership, but to allow them to be held by shooting clubs.