Subj: UK: Hague Goes To War Over Drugs



Source: The Guardian, UK



Pubdate: February 9, 2000





Hague Goes To War Over Drugs

Lucy Ward, Political Correspondent



William Hague yesterday made drugs a political battlefield at the next

general election when he unveiled draconian proposals to jail anyone caught

with cannabis within quarter of a mile of a school.



Calling for the toughest crackdown on illegal drugs Britain has seen, the

Tory leader accused the government of "turning a blind eye" to soft drugs

amid indications from cabinet minister Mo Mowlam that police efforts should

be concentrated on hard drugs like heroin and cocaine rather than cannabis.



"It is time for a stronger, firmer, harder attack on drugs than we have

ever seen before. That is the common sense solution which Britain wants and

will get under the next Conservative government," he said.



The hardline proposals for locking up people caught with cannabis within

400m of schools would be likely to lead to a significant increase in the

numbers jailed for minor drugs offences. Most people caught with a small

amount are released with a police caution. In London and most inner cities,

the density of schools would mean that virtually no area was off limits.



Mr Hague's unequivocal call for a get-tough drugs policy based on increased

imprisonment sets a clear line between the Tories and Labour and the

Liberal Democrats, despite home secretary Jack Straw's insistence that he

will make no compromise over pressure for a softer stance on cannabis use.



The Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, has reinforced party policy

of a royal commission on drugs with calls for an open, honest discussion on

the issue. The Tories hope that they can exploit apparent top-level

divisions within the government over the way forward on drugs.