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Cameron 'smoked drugs at school' Cameron 'smoked drugs at school'
(about 4 hours later)
Allegations that Conservative leader David Cameron took drugs at school have been made in a new biography. Conservative leader David Cameron took drugs while he was a pupil at Eton College, a new biography has claimed.
The Mail on Sunday claims the book says Mr Cameron, then aged 15, was one of several boys called before the head of Eton College for smoking cannabis. The book, serialised in the Independent on Sunday, says Mr Cameron, then aged 15, was one of several boys caught smoking cannabis at Eton.
He confessed and was grounded, but was not the ringleader, the paper says. He confessed and was grounded. Some of the other boys were expelled.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "David has always maintained politicians have a right to a private life before they come into politics."A Conservative Party spokesman said: "David has always maintained politicians have a right to a private life before they come into politics."
He pointed out that the alleged incident happened almost 25 years ago. Mr Cameron, now 40, has so far made no comment.He pointed out that the alleged incident happened almost 25 years ago. Mr Cameron, now 40, has so far made no comment.
HonestyHonesty
The Mail on Sunday, which says it is to serialise the book Cameron, The Rise Of The New Conservative from next month, reported that school authorities called police in over suspicions that a number of pupils had been involved with the drug. The book - Cameron, The Rise Of The New Conservative - will also be serialised in the Mail on Sunday next month.
Because he had only smoked cannabis and not traded in it, he was not expelled or suspended like several other boys, it reports. Both papers report that school authorities called the police to investigate drug use among the pupils.
On the whole I've always thought that it was better to be pretty honest about things Lord TebbitFormer Conservative chairman
Because he had only smoked cannabis and not sold it, Mr Cameron was not expelled or suspended like several other boys, the book claims.
Instead, he was fined, grounded for two weeks and given the school's traditional punishment of a "Georgic" - copying out hundreds of lines of Latin poetry, according to the book.Instead, he was fined, grounded for two weeks and given the school's traditional punishment of a "Georgic" - copying out hundreds of lines of Latin poetry, according to the book.
Throughout his leadership campaign in 2005, Mr Cameron declined to answer questions about drug taking when they were put to candidates.Throughout his leadership campaign in 2005, Mr Cameron declined to answer questions about drug taking when they were put to candidates.
He repeatedly stressed he had a right to a private past and refused to answer them.He repeatedly stressed he had a right to a private past and refused to answer them.
On the whole I've always thought that it was better to be pretty honest about things Lord Tebbit, former Conservative Chairman
Mr Cameron was initially asked at a fringe meeting at the 2005 Conservative party conference if he had ever taken drugs.Mr Cameron was initially asked at a fringe meeting at the 2005 Conservative party conference if he had ever taken drugs.
He told the meeting he had had a "typical student experience", later adding: "I did lots of things before I came into politics which I shouldn't have done. We all did."He told the meeting he had had a "typical student experience", later adding: "I did lots of things before I came into politics which I shouldn't have done. We all did."
Later that same year on BBC One's Question Time, he said everybody was allowed to "err and stray" in their past.Later that same year on BBC One's Question Time, he said everybody was allowed to "err and stray" in their past.
He told the audience he would not bow to a "media-driven agenda" to "dig into politicians' private lives".He told the audience he would not bow to a "media-driven agenda" to "dig into politicians' private lives".
Commenting on the newspaper's claims, the former Conservative Chairman Lord Tebbit told BBC News 24 it would not do him much good with Tory activists, but should not disqualify him from high office. 'Not relevant'
"On the whole I've always thought that it was better to be pretty honest about things because sooner or later the truth of the matter tends to come out and it's always better to have brought it out yourself rather than have somebody else bring it out," he added. Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit told BBC News 24 the claims would not do Mr Cameron much good with Tory activists.
Legalisation "On the whole, I've always thought that it was better to be pretty honest about things," he said.
People ready to throw stones on this issue should be aware of the glass houses of their friends, relatives or colleagues Martin Barnes Drugscope
"Because, sooner or later the truth of the matter tends to come out, and it's always better to have brought it out yourself rather than have somebody else bring it out."
Conservative spokesman on Rural Affairs, Peter Ainsworth, said he saw little relevance in the story.Conservative spokesman on Rural Affairs, Peter Ainsworth, said he saw little relevance in the story.
"I frankly don't give a monkey's...it's simply not relevant to what we're doing today with the Conservative Party or to British politics." "I frankly don't give a monkey's... it's simply not relevant to what we're doing today with the Conservative Party or to British politics."
However, the Mail on Sunday's political editor, Simon Walters, told BBC Radio Five Live some voters would want reassurances on Mr Cameron's attitude towards drugs. However, the Mail on Sunday's political editor, Simon Walters, told BBC Radio Five Live some voters would want reassurances that Mr Cameron would not legalise cannabis.
People ready to throw stones on this issue should be aware of the glass houses of their friends, relatives or colleagues Martin Barnes, chief executive of Drugscope
"I think the fact that people may forgive him for having taken drugs when he was very young may not alter the fact that those same people would not want him to liberalise the laws on cannabis if he becomes prime minister," he said.
Last month, Mr Cameron said he opposed making cannabis legal but would be "relaxed" about legalising it for medicinal use if there was evidence of its health benefits.Last month, Mr Cameron said he opposed making cannabis legal but would be "relaxed" about legalising it for medicinal use if there was evidence of its health benefits.
More than 10 million adults in the UK have used cannabis, according to drugs charity, Drugscope.More than 10 million adults in the UK have used cannabis, according to drugs charity, Drugscope.
Its chief executive, Martin Barnes, said cannabis was not harmless but blaming a generation who used the drug at some time "serves no useful purpose".Its chief executive, Martin Barnes, said cannabis was not harmless but blaming a generation who used the drug at some time "serves no useful purpose".
"People ready to throw stones on this issue should be aware of the glass houses of their friends, relatives or colleagues," he said."People ready to throw stones on this issue should be aware of the glass houses of their friends, relatives or colleagues," he said.