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Cameron defiant over drug claims Cameron defiant over drug claims
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative leader David Cameron has refused to deny claims in a biography that he smoked cannabis while he was a pupil at Eton College 25 years ago.Conservative leader David Cameron has refused to deny claims in a biography that he smoked cannabis while he was a pupil at Eton College 25 years ago.
Mr Cameron, 40, admitted he had done things in his past he "should not have done", but insisted politicians were entitled to a "private past".Mr Cameron, 40, admitted he had done things in his past he "should not have done", but insisted politicians were entitled to a "private past".
The book, serialised in the Independent on Sunday, says Mr Cameron was punished after admitting smoking cannabis.The book, serialised in the Independent on Sunday, says Mr Cameron was punished after admitting smoking cannabis.
Mr Cameron, then aged 15, was grounded but several boys were expelled.Mr Cameron, then aged 15, was grounded but several boys were expelled.
Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit said the claims would not do Mr Cameron much good with Tory activists. The claims appear on the front page of a number of Sunday newspapers.
CANNABIS STATUS: 1982 Cannabis was classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class B drugUnder 18s could be arrested and given a formal warning for possessionUp to 5 years in jail for possessionUp to 14 years in jail for supplying or dealing Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit urged Mr Cameron to come clean about any drug use, in order to put the story behind him.
Regret
Speaking outside his home on Sunday morning, Mr Cameron said: "Like many people I did things when I was young that I should not have done, and that I regret.Speaking outside his home on Sunday morning, Mr Cameron said: "Like many people I did things when I was young that I should not have done, and that I regret.
"But I do believe that politicians are entitled to a past that is private, and that remains private, so I won't be making any commentary on what is in the newspapers today.""But I do believe that politicians are entitled to a past that is private, and that remains private, so I won't be making any commentary on what is in the newspapers today."
Honesty CANNABIS STATUS: 1982 Cannabis was classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class B drugUnder 18s could be arrested and given a formal warning for possessionUp to 5 years in jail for possessionUp to 14 years in jail for supplying or dealing class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6351597.stm">MPs back Cameron
Shadow chancellor and close Cameron ally George Osborne said he suspected "the public don't really care".
He argued Mr Cameron had maintained a "consistent position" on an "important principle" of figures in public life being allowed to have had a private past.
CANNABIS STATUS: 2006 On 29 January 2004, cannabis was reclassified from a Class B to a Class C drug in the UKUnder 18s can be arrested and given a formal warningUp to 2 years in jail for possessionUp to 14 years in jail for supplying or dealing Police are more likely to confiscate the drug and give a warning, rather than arrest a person for possession
"David Cameron has made tackling the drug problem one of the big themes of his leadership," he added.
The book - Cameron, The Rise Of The New Conservative, by James Hanning and Francis Elliott - will also be serialised in the Mail on Sunday next month.The book - Cameron, The Rise Of The New Conservative, by James Hanning and Francis Elliott - will also be serialised in the Mail on Sunday next month.
Both papers report that school authorities called the police to investigate drug use among the pupils.Both papers report that school authorities called the police to investigate drug use among the pupils.
Because he had smoked cannabis and not sold it, Mr Cameron was not expelled or suspended like several other boys, the book alleges. Because he had smoked cannabis and not sold it, Mr Cameron was not expelled like several other boys, the book alleges.
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.
Refusing to answer
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. CANNABIS STATUS: 2006 On 29 January 2004, cannabis was reclassified from a Class B to a Class C drug in the UKUnder 18s can be arrested and given a formal warningUp to 2 years in jail for possessionUp to 14 years in jail for supplying or dealing Police are more likely to confiscate the drug and give a warning, rather than arrest a person for possession
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.
HAVE YOUR SAY I really don't think someone getting told off while a schoolboy is particularly newsworthy Jason Hood, Nottingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5503&edition=1">Send us your comments 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 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.
Lord Tebbit told BBC News 24: "I think it matters, but not in the sense that because when somebody was 18 or 20 they did something that was pretty damn stupid, that it disqualifies them from holding high office in their 40s when hopefully they have come to their senses. 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 health benefits.
"I think we have to take a reasoned view about these things, and the question now is whether or not he understands it is a highly dangerous drug and should be treated as such." HAVE YOUR SAY I really don't think someone getting told off while a schoolboy is particularly newsworthy Jason Hood, Nottingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5503&edition=1">Send us your comments
Lord Tebbit urged Mr Cameron to come clean about his drug use, in order to put the story behind him. Home Secretary John Reid appeared to agree that politicians were entitled to a private life before elected to office.
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. "I think this is one of those 'so what' moments," he told the BBC's Politics Show.
"Do we want to get to the level of ensuring that every politician... is a sort of plastic politician produced off some colourless and characterless conveyor belt?"
Lord Tebbit told BBC News 24: "My advice to him now would be, 'Get it out of the way, get it over with and it will be a seven-day wonder. If you don't, people will keep turning up with another expose'."