|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Tory leader dodges claims over drug use
Gulf Times Monday 12 Feb 2007 LONDON: David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, yesterday refused to confirm or deny allegations that he had smoked cannabis while a pupil at the prestigious Eton school. The allegations surfaced in extracts from a new biography on Cameron, who is widely credited with modernising the Conservative party since being chosen its leader in December 2005. The book, entitled ‘Cameron: The Rise Of The New Conservative’ and written by James Hanning and Francis Elliott, alleges that Cameron was among schoolboys who were caught smoking cannabis at Eton in 1982, according to extracts serialised in The Independent on Sunday newspaper. Cameron allegedly confessed to smoking cannabis after being questioned by the school’s headteacher, but was only disciplined because he was not trading the illegal substance, according to the biography. However, seven pupils were expelled by Eton authorities over the episode, it added. Eric Anderson (now Sir Eric, and provost of Eton, who also taught Tony Blair at Fettes), says he does not recall Cameron’s involvement but remembers having to deal with drugtakers when at Eton. “We would have said, ‘Let’s get the ringleaders’, and if there were others involved, we would have scared them off from doing it again. We’re dealing with young boys, and young boys sometimes do silly things.” After his Eton “bust”, Cameron appears to have largely abstained from drug use, although a friend recalls him having “occasionally a joint or something” while a student at Oxford. By the time that he was working at the Conservative Party’s headquarters in the early 1990s Cameron was refusing joints. Cameron yesterday admitted that he had done things in his past which he “should not have done and regretted.” “I’m not issuing a denial, what I am saying is that I think it’s an important principle that politicians are entitled to a private past,” he told reporters gathered outside his Oxfordshire home. “Today, I’m a member of parliament, I’m someone putting myself forward to be prime minister. “You are perfectly entitled to come and follow me round, put cameras up my nose, have a good look at me, even come and watch me cook Sunday lunch if you like, but I wouldn’t recommend it. “But I do think you are entitled to a private past, that is an important principle and one that I’m going to stand by.” There were also fears that right-wing elements in the party would be horrified that he had used drugs, a “zero tolerance” issue for many Conservatives. Cameron, 40, is often compared with Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair because they both have a slick, telegenic style - and both have enjoyed a meteoric rise to power on the back of a reforming ticket. However, Finance Minister Gordon Brown - who is widely expected to become premier later this year when Blair steps down as promised - has made it clear that he has never taken illegal narcotics. - Agencies http://www.gulf-times.com/
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!