Pubdate: Fri, 14 Oct 2005
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454
Author: Helen Rumbelow, Political Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

'I STRAYED' - BUT CAMERON DODGES DRUGS QUESTIONS

DAVID CAMERON, one of the frontrunners for the Tory leadership, said last 
night that he would not disclose whether he had taken hard drugs, but that 
he had "erred and strayed" before entering politics. On the BBC One 
Question Time programme Mr Cameron was asked directly for the first time 
whether he had used hard drugs. He has been under increasing pressure to 
disclose any history of drug use since he was first asked at the 
Conservative Party conference in Blackpool last week.

He gave his most extensive - and most defiant - response on the issue to 
date. Mr Cameron, the 39-year-old Shadow Education Secretary, who has 
soared ahead in the leadership polls after a popular speech last week, 
hinted about "mistakes" that he had made in his youth. But at the same time 
he said that he would not give in to a "witch hunt" over whether he had 
used drugs, refusing to reveal more details because "that was all in the past".

"I'm allowed to have had a private life before politics, in which we make 
mistakes and we do things that we should not - and we are all human and we 
err and stray," Mr Cameron said on the programme.

"And I think if you want to have machines as politicians who have never 
done anything wrong, I think that is a very sad day and we should not be 
driven by the media on that."

His response drew applause from the audience, but the MP for Witney now 
finds that his campaign is dominated by the drugs question before the first 
ballot of MPs in the Tory leadership race on Tuesday.

He was bullish about his decision to remain tight-lipped last night, 
despite criticism from fellow panellists such as Mark Oaten, the Liberal 
Democrat Home Affairs spokesman.

"I didn't spend the early years of my life thinking 'I better not do 
anything because one day I might be a politician', because I didn't know I 
was going to be a politician," Mr Cameron said. "And I haven't answered the 
question about drugs because I think that's all in the past and I don't 
think you have to answer it."

Mr Cameron made the distinction between a politician's life before he held 
office and his current responsibilities. "I think you shouldn't be a 
law-breaker and a law-maker," he said.

He cited in his defence the debacle in 2000 when Ann Widdecombe, then 
Shadow Home Secretary, called for a tougher line on cannabis. After her 
comments, eight members of the Tory Shadow Cabinet admitted to having 
smoked the drug. Mr Cameron also pointed out that Tony Blair, the Prime 
Minister, has never categorically denied drug use in his youth, saying 
instead that the never "got into drugs". "I have seen Conservative Shadow 
Cabinets pulled apart by this question with different people giving 
different answers," said Mr Cameron.

"The Labour Cabinet have not answered this question. They have said it is 
not relevant now."

However, Mr Cameron's three main rivals, David Davis, Ken Clarke and Liam 
Fox, have each denied ever using any kind of illegal drug and there is a 
suspicion that politicians in opposing camps could exploit Mr Cameron's 
coyness on the subject.

The question first arose when Mr Cameron was asked whether he had ever 
taken drugs, at a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party conference in 
Blackpool. He simply said that he had had a typical student experience, but 
when confronted by the issue again in a television interview on Sunday, he 
said: "I did lots of things before I come into politics which I shouldn't 
have done. We all did."

Mr Cameron has previously backed the relaxation of drug laws.

DRIFTING SMOKESCREEN

May 24 In a Commons speech David Cameron says that raising school standards 
would address problems that the nation faces over skills, crime and drugs

September 6 He says he believes that the UN should consider legalising drugs

October 5 Cameron is asked, in an interview at a fringe meeting at 
Blackpool, if he has ever taken drugs. He refuses to say whether he has

October 6 Pressure increases on Cameron, dubbed by some tabloid newspapers 
as "Cannabis Cameron", as he continues to refuse to answer the question

October 9 All his rivals indicate that they have never taken illegal substances

October 11 Appears to accidentally admit to smoking cannabis but continues 
to duck challenges or deny smoking the drug as a younger man
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D