ERG Conservatives and DUP reject police advice on rifles

It is hard to square this media release:

How Conservatives are taking action on offensive weapons

with the news last week that

A planned ban on military grade assault rifles has been dropped amid pressure from some Conservative and DUP MPs. The ban on .50- or higher-calibre weapons was initially included in the Offensive Weapons Bill, driven by concerns over a growing black market trade in such weapons.

Senior police officials had warned that their officers have no known protection against these weapons. Louise Haigh, Labour's Shadow Policing and Crime Minister, and the SNP inveighed against the amendment in the House. There was a Lib Dem media release against the change and our MPs joined Labour and the SNP in the No Lobby.

The Spectator and the Gulf News have pointed out that the identity of the people forcing this change is practically also that of those pressing for a break with the EU.