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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drugs worse than drink say Tories | Drugs worse than drink say Tories |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Conservative activists have voted overwhelmingly against a motion claiming that alcohol does more harm than drugs. | Conservative activists have voted overwhelmingly against a motion claiming that alcohol does more harm than drugs. |
| Members defeated the move by 63% to 37% following emotional appeals from the father of two drug addict sons and a recovering alcoholic. | Members defeated the move by 63% to 37% following emotional appeals from the father of two drug addict sons and a recovering alcoholic. |
| Ex-newspaper editor Rosie Boycott urged people not to underestimate the death and destruction alcohol could cause. | Ex-newspaper editor Rosie Boycott urged people not to underestimate the death and destruction alcohol could cause. |
| But the conference was also told drug dealers were controlling Glasgow. | But the conference was also told drug dealers were controlling Glasgow. |
| That warning came from Jim Doherty, who runs the Gallowgate Family Support Group in Glasgow's East End. | That warning came from Jim Doherty, who runs the Gallowgate Family Support Group in Glasgow's East End. |
| The pair made their heartfelt appeals during a "hot topic" debate at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth. | The pair made their heartfelt appeals during a "hot topic" debate at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth. |
| Violence warning | Violence warning |
| Ms Boycott, a reformed alcoholic who edited the Daily Express and The Independent newspapers, argued that alcoholism was not something she would wish on her worst enemy. | Ms Boycott, a reformed alcoholic who edited the Daily Express and The Independent newspapers, argued that alcoholism was not something she would wish on her worst enemy. |
| She said it resulted in family breakdown, caused suffering to people around those affected, fuelled murders and was responsible for countless work days lost to hangovers. | She said it resulted in family breakdown, caused suffering to people around those affected, fuelled murders and was responsible for countless work days lost to hangovers. |
| We are burying young people - we're burying 13-year-olds who have over-dosed Jim DohertyGallowgate Family Support Group | We are burying young people - we're burying 13-year-olds who have over-dosed Jim DohertyGallowgate Family Support Group |
| Ms Boycott, who ran a campaign calling for personal use of cannabis to be decriminalised, said: "The violence that comes from alcohol is huge. | Ms Boycott, who ran a campaign calling for personal use of cannabis to be decriminalised, said: "The violence that comes from alcohol is huge. |
| "If my teenage daughter was in a back alley and she bumped into six young men who'd either consumed 25 cans of Special Brew or smoked a few joints which would I rather happen? | "If my teenage daughter was in a back alley and she bumped into six young men who'd either consumed 25 cans of Special Brew or smoked a few joints which would I rather happen? |
| "I have to say I'd rather she met the guys who smoked the joints because the chances are they'd just fall over rather than try to rape her or mug her." | "I have to say I'd rather she met the guys who smoked the joints because the chances are they'd just fall over rather than try to rape her or mug her." |
| Mr Doherty said two of his sons had become drug addicts. | Mr Doherty said two of his sons had become drug addicts. |
| "I believe drugs are causing more harm than alcohol," he said. "We are burying young people - we're burying 13-year-olds who have over-dosed. | "I believe drugs are causing more harm than alcohol," he said. "We are burying young people - we're burying 13-year-olds who have over-dosed. |
| "Drug dealers control our communities - the scum that are making a living out of people's misery." | "Drug dealers control our communities - the scum that are making a living out of people's misery." |
| Ecstasy warning | Ecstasy warning |
| Mr Doherty's stance was backed by a police officer who claimed he had seen too many people's lives taken from them by crack cocaine. | |
| A child forensic psychologist said she could foresee the use of ecstasy resulting in "a lot of people with early on-set Alzheimer's" in 40 years time. | A child forensic psychologist said she could foresee the use of ecstasy resulting in "a lot of people with early on-set Alzheimer's" in 40 years time. |
| "You can take a teeny weenie bit of ecstasy and it can leave a sodding great footprint on your brain," she said. | "You can take a teeny weenie bit of ecstasy and it can leave a sodding great footprint on your brain," she said. |
| However, one representative from Somerset, said binge drinking was the real problem in rural areas like his. | However, one representative from Somerset, said binge drinking was the real problem in rural areas like his. |
| And compere Dr David Bull said as a former accident and emergency doctor his caseload "was alcohol related rather than drug related". | And compere Dr David Bull said as a former accident and emergency doctor his caseload "was alcohol related rather than drug related". |
| The result of the interactive vote will not affect party policy. | The result of the interactive vote will not affect party policy. |
| On Wednesday activists will be asked to give their views on the last "hot topic", entitled "global companies are a force for good". | On Wednesday activists will be asked to give their views on the last "hot topic", entitled "global companies are a force for good". |