Cameron finally comes clean on cannabis claims

 Add your view

Mr Cameron's two-day visit to Sweden has been billed as a low-key fact-finding mission

Teenagers tempted to follow his example and experiment with drugs have been given a blunt message by David Cameron: "Don't - it's wrong."

A day after they first appeared, the Tory leader confirmed weekend reports that he smoked cannabis at Eton as he appealed to voters to judge him on his policies rather than the mistakes of his youth.

• Cannabis-crazed killer van driver is jailed for life

• 'Middle class youngsters dabble more with drink and drugs'

• Benedict Brogan's blog: The only British journalist to accompany Cameron to Sweden

• Did you smoke cannabis, said the Head. Yes, said David, 15

• Exclusive: Cameron DID smoke cannabis

On a two-day visit to Sweden, he spoke of his fears as a parent about an "epidemic" of super-strength cannabis sweeping the country.

He warned that some schools were effectively encouraging pupils to experiment with drugs by giving them too much tempting information.

And he told the Daily Mail that he wants a review of the official drug classification system to take account of a raft of new addictive substances available on the streets.

Mr Cameron kept up his refusal to discuss the precise circumstances that saw him narrowly avoid expulsion from Eton at the age of 15 over his involvement in a drugs ring.

Faced with detailed revelations about a 1982 scandal at the exclusive boarding school that saw seven pupils expelled and himself gated, Mr Cameron had said nothing on Sunday beyond a prepared statement.

But he spoke candidly about how his experience has shaped his understanding of drugs policy, and revealed that if a 15-year-old constituent asked him for advice today, he would tell him to stay away from drugs.

"I would advise strongly against it. It's against the law, it's wrong. I have seen what's happened to contemporaries and constituents who have gone badly off the rails with drugs.

"Doing drugs is a bad idea, and there is a real epidemic in our country and we need to do things about that," he said.

He added: "I have been very clear about this. When they are young, lots of people do things they shouldn't and I was one of them.

"I regret those things but people should judge me now based on the policies I put forward. That is the message that is coming from the Conservative party."

Sunday's revelations, detailed in a new biography of Mr Cameron, left him facing the kind of awkward questions he ducked during the 2005 Tory leadership contest.

He stuck by his claim that all politicians are entitled to a "private past" and should not be required to reveal everything of their lives before they enter politics.

By last night, there was no sign of a backlash among Conservatives who appeared happy to forgive what many believe was little more than a youthful indiscretion.

But with uncertainty still surrounding Mr Cameron's experience of drugs in later life, in particular after he left university but before he became an MP, there were signs that Labour's dirty tricks squad are keen to sow doubts about his character.

Mr Cameron is privately furious over attempts by some in the Labour party, which he blames on Gordon Brown, to portray his attitude to drugs as "casual".

The Chancellor has let it be known that he favours a "zero-tolerance" approach to drugs among his advisers and has never tried them personally.

Speaking in Stockholm before meeting the new Swedish prime minister, he said Tory policy would put an emphasis on fact-based education using the first-hand experiences of reformed addicts, and residential rehabilitation.

Accompanied by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and policy chief Oliver Letwin, Mr Cameron is here to learn from Fredrik Reinfeldt who successfully shifted his party to the political centre and ousted a left-wing government that had been in power for more than a decade.

Speaking to the Mail, he emphasised his "regret" at what he believes was a youthful mistake which will inform his approach to drugs policy.

He said: "I still don't think we are getting drugs education right in Britain. On some occasions in some schools we are almost too informative and are almost encouraging people to experiment."

Conservative policy at the last election would be based on proposals developed under Michael Howard that would see a dramatic expansion of residential places available to hardened addicts.

Mr Cameron praised the tougher approach in Sweden, which does not distinguish between cannabis and harder drugs such as heroin, and practices a zero-tolerance policy.

He said: "I have argued against the legalisation of any drugs. Drug-taking is wrong and it's against the law. And that's as it should be."

The strength of drugs now available on the streets has increased dramatically in recent years, he said, notably cannabis. He repeated his call for the downgrading of cannabis from Schedule B to C under Labour to be reversed.

But he also said there was scope for an overhaul of the Home Office classification system which directs how the criminal justice system treats each drug.

He added: "At some stage we need to look at the whole classification system. Is it sending out an accurate message about drugs and their effects?

"Times have changed and drugs change. New drugs appear that either aren't illegal or don't fit in a class. The classification system is in need of a great overhaul."

Mr Cameron said: "Bringing up children today, there are so many temptations and opportunities that might do you damage.

"Like any parent I worry about the choices my children make and I am desperate for them to make the right choices. That's why I do try to choose my words carefully.

"As someone with a prominent role I have a responsibility to talk about things in a sensible manner and as a parent I'm very keen to ensure that I do everything to encourage peope to make the right decison rather than the wrong ones. Preaching doesn't work but good sense does."

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter