Rupert Lowe, leader of the Restore Britain party, has sparked widespread outrage after incorrectly claiming that the Dunblane massacre involved only "one murder." The comments were made during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, the world's most popular podcast.
Incorrect Statement on Podcast
During the interview, Lowe told Rogan that handguns were banned in the UK "because there was a murder up in Dunblane." Rogan sought clarification, asking, "One murder?" to which Lowe replied, "One murder." In reality, the Dunblane school shooting on March 13, 1996, claimed the lives of 16 children aged five and six, along with their teacher, Gwen Mayor. Another 15 children and three adults were injured before the gunman, Thomas Hamilton, took his own life. The tragedy remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history and prompted significant reforms to the UK's gun laws.
Political and Public Backlash
The remarks drew immediate condemnation from politicians across the spectrum. Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr described Lowe's comments as "shocking." He stated: "One murder? Sixteen kids and their teacher were murdered. Fifteen other primary school children were wounded. My children's school, about 15 minutes from Dunblane, was locked down that day. They'll never forget being kept in the gym hall until everyone learned the gunman was dead. They'll never forget the teachers trying to hold themselves together while reassuring frightened children. To reduce that atrocity to 'one murder' is deeply insulting. It wasn't a single murder. It was a mass murder. In a primary school."
Kerr added: "Almost as disturbing was the tone – one of disbelief, even mockery, that anyone could respond by tightening gun laws. This wasn't some obscure historical event. It happened in 1996, when Lowe was 38 years old. He should have known what happened on that terrifying day in Dunblane. For anyone who remembers that day, hearing it dismissed so casually is genuinely shocking."
Context of Gun Law Discussion
Lowe made the comments while explaining his views on why the UK has strict gun laws. He said: "Effectively, they are trying to make that very difficult through the licensing laws for guns. My father used to shoot pistols for Oxford University and he's dead now, bless him, but all his pistols were taken away, the pistols he used to shoot with at Oxford University. I mean, we now have a society which needs radical change."
Further Condemnation
Clackmannanshire and Dunblane SNP MSP Keith Brown also condemned Lowe's remarks, calling him "a stain on our politics" and his comments "beyond despicable." Brown highlighted the legacy of the Snowdrop Campaign, which followed the tragedy and led to a ban on the private ownership of most handguns. He said: "Despite these hideous remarks from Rupert Lowe, the Snowdrop Campaign that followed that terrible day ensured a ban on the private ownership of most handguns – that is the proud legacy of the bereaved families and the local community. Their courage and determination in the aftermath of the attack is something we should never betray and our community will never let the likes of Rupert Lowe do exactly that."
Gun Law Reform After Dunblane
The Dunblane massacre shocked the nation and led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world. Following public outrage and anti-gun campaigning, a ban on most handguns was introduced by John Major's Conservative government in 1997. Later that year, legislation widening the ban to include all cartridge ammunition handguns was introduced by Tony Blair's Labour government.
Response from Restore Britain
A Restore Britain spokesman defended Lowe, stating: "Rupert was clearly referring to one incident." The statement did not address the inaccuracy regarding the number of fatalities.
