BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw is plotting to split the Tories over demands for a ban on handguns and hopes to turn it into a general election issue.

He is masterminding Labour plans to use demands for a handgun ban to embarrass the government.

Public opinion has overwhelmingly backed calls for the outlawing of handguns in the wake of the Dunblane massacre.

But an influential gun-lobby element within the Tories is working behind the scenes to limit changes to merely a tightening of the regulations.

Labour meanwhile is ready to back demands for an outright ban on all military-style handguns, plus stricter controls on the ownership of single-shot, small calibre pistols.

It plans to put the proposals to the Commons in the autumn.

Its decision follows the leaking of recommendations from the Conservative-dominated Home Affairs Committee against a complete ban on handguns, claiming it would be impractical.

That decision appalled a substantial number of Tory backbenchers who are ready to vote for a ban if given the opportunity.

Labour leader Tony Blair, on the advice of Mr Straw, has agreed to give them the chance early in the next parliamentary session. The Blackburn MP insists the public wants to see handguns removed from circulation to prevent the risk of a repeat of the Dunblane tragedy, in which 16 children and their teacher were murdered by Thomas Hamilton.

Labour, he added, is "strongly committed to tough action on guns and believes the Tories have failed to understand public feeling."

The Straw-planned move will create an embarrassing dilemma for the government.

Prime Minister John Major will include a handgun ban in new firearms legislation if the Cullen Inquiry recommends one.

But there have been growing indications from the inquiry that Lord Cullen is likely to stop short of proposing a complete ban.

If the government then opposed Labour demands, ministers could find themselves facing defeat in a Commons vote, with a number of Tory MPs rebelling against the party whip.

However, both Mr Blair and Mr Straw believe that, even if the government succeeded in blocking a ban, it would ultimately lose.

For the issue would then prove a real vote winner for Labour in the General Election.

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