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Tabloid fear drives UK drug policy, claims Lucas during MPs' debate Drugs policy: End 'robotic rhetoric' says minister
(about 2 hours later)
Green MP Caroline Lucas has said "fear of the tabloids" has driven UK drug policy for the last few decades. The "genie is out of the bottle" on drugs policy, MPs were told as they backed calls for a review of 40-year-old laws.
A group of backbenchers from all parties is urging the government to review the "failing" Misuse of Drugs Act, in a debate brought by Ms Lucas. Lib Dem Home Office Minister Norman Baker said politicians were out of step with public opinion and called for an end to "robotic mindless rhetoric".
It comes as the Home Office published two separate reports into different approaches to drug misuse around the world and legal highs in the UK. Backbench Conservatives also expressed doubts about current policy but Downing Street said there would be no change.
The Home Office has said it is not considering any shift in drugs policy. A report found no obvious link between tough laws and levels of drug use.
But MPs want a review to be published within the next 12 months. The findings of the Home Office report, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats to compare drugs policies in different countries, prompted a row at the top of the coalition.
Lib Dem deputy prime minister Nick Clegg accused his Conservative colleagues of trying to block the report, and of a "totally misplaced, outdated, backward-looking view".
'Scourge of drugs'
Downing Street in turn accused Mr Clegg of sending "an incredibly dangerous message" and said that drug use in the UK was "plummeting" because of existing policy.
But during the Commons debate brought by Green MP Caroline Lucas, Conservative MPs Robert Syms, Bob Stewart and Zac Goldsmith expressed unease with the current approach.
Mr Syms said: "Contrary to press reports, there are many of us on these benches, the Conservative benches, that believe in evidence-based reform to have a more effective policy in dealing with the scourge of drugs."
The Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1971.The Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1971.
Ms Lucas said successive governments had consistently refused to take an "evidence-based approach" out of "fear of the tabloids", while Labour's Paul Flynn said drug policy since 1971 had been "evidence-free and prejudice-rich". Ms Lucas's motion, which was backed by Labour's Bob Ainsworth and Lib Dem Julian Huppert, told MPs that "fear of the tabloids" had driven UK drug policy for decades.
She said successive governments had consistently refused to take an "evidence-based approach" out of "fear of the tabloids", while Labour's Paul Flynn said drug policy since 1971 had been "evidence-free and prejudice-rich".
The Liberal Democrats' Julian Huppert claimed public opinion was turning in support of drug policy reform, and said that now "lots of newspapers are coming out in favour".The Liberal Democrats' Julian Huppert claimed public opinion was turning in support of drug policy reform, and said that now "lots of newspapers are coming out in favour".
Several Conservatives also spoke in favour of reform. Robert Syms, Bob Stewart and Zac Goldsmith were among those who expressed doubts about current policy.
Mr Syms said: "Contrary to press reports, there are many of us on these benches, the Conservative benches, that believe in evidence-based reform to have a more effective policy in dealing with the scourge of drugs."
But Tory Sarah Wollaston, chairman of the Health Select Committee and a former GP, said that although she had "no moralistic objection" to those who used drugs, as opposed to those involved in the drug trade, it was "factually incorrect" to say the UK was losing the war on drugs.But Tory Sarah Wollaston, chairman of the Health Select Committee and a former GP, said that although she had "no moralistic objection" to those who used drugs, as opposed to those involved in the drug trade, it was "factually incorrect" to say the UK was losing the war on drugs.
'One-sided debate'
She claimed drug use was falling, thanks to the government's policy.She claimed drug use was falling, thanks to the government's policy.
For Labour, shadow Home Office minister Diane Johnson said it was "important not to have a one-sided debate and just say everything's failed". She also argued that there was much evidence to suggest that the policies pursued by successive governments had worked to reduce drug abuse.For Labour, shadow Home Office minister Diane Johnson said it was "important not to have a one-sided debate and just say everything's failed". She also argued that there was much evidence to suggest that the policies pursued by successive governments had worked to reduce drug abuse.
At the end of the debate Mr Baker announced that the government was amending regulations to make the drug Naloxone more widely available - to try to prevent prisoners overusing heroin on their release and dying.
"That's already available on prescription but we are amending regulations to make it more widely available from next year which will help prevent people come out of prison, overusing heroin and causing sudden death in that situation," he said.
He said he hoped the Commons debate would be the start of a wider debate on drugs policy. "The genie is out of the bottle and is not going back in. The days of robotic. mindless rhetoric will no long do," he said, adding that the evidence would not allow it.
Ms Lucas said at the close of the sometimes-sparsely attended debate, that her only regret was that MPs who were not convinced of the arguments to change existing policy were not in the chamber to hear them.
Thursday's debate was granted by the Commons Backbench Business Committee - after an e-petition calling for an impact assessment of drugs laws was signed by 135,000 people - and its conclusions will not be binding on the government.Thursday's debate was granted by the Commons Backbench Business Committee - after an e-petition calling for an impact assessment of drugs laws was signed by 135,000 people - and its conclusions will not be binding on the government.
Home Office studyHome Office study
The reports released on Thursday say there is "no obvious relationship" between tough drug laws and levels of drug abuse.The reports released on Thursday say there is "no obvious relationship" between tough drug laws and levels of drug abuse.
One explored different ways in which 13 countries approach drug misuse and compared them with the UK.One explored different ways in which 13 countries approach drug misuse and compared them with the UK.
After examining a range of approaches, from zero-tolerance to decriminalisation, the research concluded that drug use is influenced by factors "more complex and nuanced than legislation and enforcement alone".After examining a range of approaches, from zero-tolerance to decriminalisation, the research concluded that drug use is influenced by factors "more complex and nuanced than legislation and enforcement alone".
Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, the Home Office minister for drug policy, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the report had "some inconvenient truths in it", and that it showed the current policy was a "nonsensical approach". The motion considered by MPs said an "evidence-based approach" should be at the centre of an effective drugs policy and calls on the government to consider "all the alternatives to the UK's failing drug laws".
But Conservative MP Michael Ellis said the Lib Dem response was "naked political posturing", accusing them of drawing the wrong conclusions from the research. Ms Lucas has said it was worded so as to be as uncontroversial as possible and had received backing from other parties.
The motion being considered by MPs contends that an "evidence-based approach" should be at the centre of an effective drugs policy and calls on the government to consider "all the alternatives to the UK's failing drug laws". Although Norman Baker has responsibility for drugs policy, his boss - Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May - has made clear no major changes are on the agenda, maintaining that existing approaches are working.
Caroline Lucas told the BBC earlier this month the motion "has been deliberately worded so as to be as uncontroversial as possible".
Its supporters include former Labour defence secretary Bob Ainsworth and Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert.
Ms Lucas added that much of the debate by MPs on drugs was "knee-jerk" and that many of the public were "far ahead" of politicians, saying: "There's a lot of evidence that prohibition simply isn't working.
"We want to get MPs recognising that there is a need for a comprehensive debate."
After a visit to South America earlier this year, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg called for a far-reaching change of approach to drugs policy in the UK, focusing more on treatment rather than punishment.
Mr Clegg wants responsibility for drug addiction to be moved from the Home Office to the Department of Health, a move also supported by some Labour MPs.
On his regular LBC radio call-in show, he said "if you are anti-drugs, you should be pro-reform" and accused the Conservatives and Labour of being "behind the curve" on the issue.
He said that if addicts were treated as medical patients rather than criminals, it would "free up resources to allow you to go after the pushers and the criminals".
But although Norman Baker has responsibility for drugs policy, his boss - Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May - has made clear no major changes are on the agenda, maintaining that existing approaches are working.
A Downing Street spokesman said the report made "very clear" that "the government's approach already provides a good balance between enforcement and treatment, drug use is plummeting as a result and there is simply no chance we will entertain such a reckless change of course".
Mr Clegg said the disagreement between the coalition partners was a "staunch difference of opinion".