Source: The European, published letter

Pub Date: 16 January 1998

Subject: Toe The Party Line On Drugs - Or Else

Author: Alun Buffry

 THE PARTY LINE ON DRUGS - OR ELSE

Last summer we heard that the Labour Party had sent a circular to all its MPs telling them that if they spoke or voted against the Government they risked de-selection.

We now hear that the Labour Party have instructed all 60 MEPs to vote against the report being presented by Hedy D'Ancona, the former Dutch welfare, health and culture minister, who chaired the EU parliamentary commission on drugs. The report calls for EU harm-reduction policies, room for regional solutions and studies of alternatives. It concludes that the approach to solving the drugs 'problem' using heavy-handed tactics, has failed.

How many of our elected representatives think for themselves? Judging by both their reaction to the changes in welfare benefits and their recent silence over the cannabis issue, not many.

Why don't we drop the pretense of democracy, get rid of all and MEPs who so enthusiastically toe-the-party-line without invest the money saved in cloning Tony Blair?

Whatever happened to democracy and the voice of the voters?

Alun Buffry

Norwich

England