Majority back tough drug laws, but Tories urged to go soft

A new poll shows that most people want laws against drugs to remain tough, with only one in seven people backing liberalisation.

But one commentator, who is a former speechwriter for David Cameron, says a softer line on drugs would be a perfect Tory policy for connecting with young voters.

And another commentator, who is an associate editor of the influential Tory grassroots website ConservativeHome, has called for a review of drugs laws.

Campaign

The poll was commissioned by Transform, a campaign group that wants a more liberal approach to drugs.

It claims more than half of people favour legalisation of cannabis or decriminalising its possession, but 60 per cent oppose decriminalisation of general possession of drugs.

In 2004 the then Labour Government liberalised the law for cannabis possession, but it proved to be a disaster and they were forced to restore the original tougher law.

Weak

Nevertheless, campaign group Transform are calling for the laws to be weakened again.

A spokesman accused Labour and Conservative politicians of shying away from the debate on drugs.

Meanwhile, commentator Ian Birrell wrote an article on the issue – with the headline: “Legalising drugs would be the perfect Tory policy”. He added that it would help the party “connect with young and ethnic minority voters”.

And Peter Hoskin, an associate editor of the website ConservativeHome, called on David Cameron to have a review of Britain’s drugs policy.