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UK: Duncan Smith signals U-turn on Section 28 and cannabis law
David Cracknell The Sunday Telegraph
Sunday 02 Sep 2001 IAIN DUNCAN SMITH signals in The Telegraph today that he is ready to repeal Section 28, the controversial legislation that forbids the "promotion of homosexuality" by town halls, and to review the law on cannabis use. Iain Duncan Smith: 'We have become identified with what we dislike and hate, rather than the things we like' Mr Duncan Smith, the favourite in the Conservative leadership contest, says that Section 28 - which he had previously supported - had become a "totem", identifying the party with "dislike and hate" of people. In an interview with Gyles Brandreth, he also said the Conservatives would "have to look" at whether banning the use of cannabis was the most effective means of stemming abuse. His announcement on Section 28 represents a reversal of the position he held at the beginning of the contest and echoes comments made by Michael Portillo that were blamed for ruining his leadership bid. Mr Duncan Smith told The Telegraph: "We have become identified with what we dislike and hate, rather than the things we like. Clause 28, I accept, has about it a totem which is about saying to a group in the community: 'We actually rather dislike you.' "That is a problem and a party like ours has to think how to resolve that. It is important to protect children from influences that are malign, but, at the same time, I want to get rid of the concept that it's all about one community. So yes, I'd look at it again." When Mr Duncan Smith launched his leadership campaign in June he defended the party's policy of upholding Section 28 and denied that it was "homophobic". He was also instrumental, as a member of William Hague's shadow cabinet, in the decision to oppose Labour's 1999 plans to scrap it. In today's interview, Mr Duncan Smith was also asked for his comments on cannabis, which the former deputy party leader, Peter Lilley, has argued should be legalised. The shadow defence secretary said: "I think we have to look at all this." When Mr Lilley called for the legalisation of cannabis in July, Mr Duncan Smith insisted that he was against the idea. Mr Portillo's remarks that he would review Section 28 and consider the decriminalistion of cannabis were widely blamed for destroying his own campaign for the leadership in July. It was one of Mr Duncan Smith's campaign team, the MP Julian Brazier, who forced Mr Portillo into the admission at a meeting in the House of Commons. Mr Duncan Smith's comments reflect the desire among his campaign team to prevent him being caricatured as reactionary. Polling evidence indicates that he is on course to beat Kenneth Clarke by a significant margin. If he wins the contest, the result of which is announced on September 12, he is expected to invite senior MPs who were supporters of Mr Portillo to be part of his shadow cabinet, including Oliver Letwin, David Willetts, Tim Yeo and Damian Green. Others, including Francis Maude and Archie Norman, have indicated that they do not want frontbench jobs whoever wins.
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