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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/09/sajid-javid-hits-out-at-drug-users-in-wake-of-gove-confession
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| Michael Gove says drug admission will not lead to US travel ban | Michael Gove says drug admission will not lead to US travel ban |
| (3 days later) | |
| Michael Gove has said his use of cocaine in the past will not lead to him being banned from entering US, as he struggled to get his Tory leadership campaign back on track. | Michael Gove has said his use of cocaine in the past will not lead to him being banned from entering US, as he struggled to get his Tory leadership campaign back on track. |
| Gove dismissed as “foolish” the idea that American authorities could ban a prime minister from entering their country, even though some UK citizens have been stopped from going to the US after admitting to having taken drugs. | Gove dismissed as “foolish” the idea that American authorities could ban a prime minister from entering their country, even though some UK citizens have been stopped from going to the US after admitting to having taken drugs. |
| He acknowledged he was “fortunate” not to have been sent to prison for using the class-A drug while a journalist about 20 years ago but said it was unlikely to lead to a travel ban. | He acknowledged he was “fortunate” not to have been sent to prison for using the class-A drug while a journalist about 20 years ago but said it was unlikely to lead to a travel ban. |
| Pressed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show about whether he had ever lied about his drug use to US immigration authorities, Gove said: “I don’t believe that I have ever, on any occasion, failed to tell the truth about this when asked directly.” He said he was not asked about drug use when he became a government minister. | Pressed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show about whether he had ever lied about his drug use to US immigration authorities, Gove said: “I don’t believe that I have ever, on any occasion, failed to tell the truth about this when asked directly.” He said he was not asked about drug use when he became a government minister. |
| The environment secretary has had to confront a series of difficult questions after his drug use while in his 30s was revealed in a new book by a journalist, Owen Bennett. | The environment secretary has had to confront a series of difficult questions after his drug use while in his 30s was revealed in a new book by a journalist, Owen Bennett. |
| Asked if he should have gone to prison, Gove said: “I was fortunate in that I didn’t, but I do think it was a profound mistake and I have seen the damage drugs do. I have seen it close up and I have also seen it in the work that I have done as a politician. That is why I deeply regret the mistake that I made.” | Asked if he should have gone to prison, Gove said: “I was fortunate in that I didn’t, but I do think it was a profound mistake and I have seen the damage drugs do. I have seen it close up and I have also seen it in the work that I have done as a politician. That is why I deeply regret the mistake that I made.” |
| In the wake of the revelations, Sajid Javid, one of Gove’s rivals for the leadership, hit out at middle-class users of class-A drugs who failed to think of the “countless lives destroyed” by the trade. | In the wake of the revelations, Sajid Javid, one of Gove’s rivals for the leadership, hit out at middle-class users of class-A drugs who failed to think of the “countless lives destroyed” by the trade. |
| Javid, the home secretary, said he would not comment directly on Gove’s admission but he said his view was that people taking class-A drugs needed to think about the abuse of young children trafficked into the trade. | Javid, the home secretary, said he would not comment directly on Gove’s admission but he said his view was that people taking class-A drugs needed to think about the abuse of young children trafficked into the trade. |
| He also highlighted the hypocrisy of those who “have their organic food, they boast about buying fair trade, they talk about climate change, and at the same time come Friday or Saturday night they’re all doing drugs – and they should think about the impact they’re having, especially on children with the rise in county gangs.” | He also highlighted the hypocrisy of those who “have their organic food, they boast about buying fair trade, they talk about climate change, and at the same time come Friday or Saturday night they’re all doing drugs – and they should think about the impact they’re having, especially on children with the rise in county gangs.” |
| Speaking on Sky’s Ridge on Sunday programme, Javid said: “Anyone that takes class-A drugs needs to think about that supply chain that comes, let’s say, from Colombia to Chelsea, and the number of lives that are destroyed along the way. People should be thinking about the impact they’re having on others.” | Speaking on Sky’s Ridge on Sunday programme, Javid said: “Anyone that takes class-A drugs needs to think about that supply chain that comes, let’s say, from Colombia to Chelsea, and the number of lives that are destroyed along the way. People should be thinking about the impact they’re having on others.” |
| Gove admitted to the Daily Mail that he had taken cocaine when working as a journalist after he was confronted by revelations from Bennett’s book. It is understood some of his former staff knew about the drug-taking from a meeting during his previous leadership bid. | Gove admitted to the Daily Mail that he had taken cocaine when working as a journalist after he was confronted by revelations from Bennett’s book. It is understood some of his former staff knew about the drug-taking from a meeting during his previous leadership bid. |
| In a further embarrassment, the Observer reported that in 1999 Gove wrote an article in the Times setting out why he opposed what he called “London’s liberal consensus” on loosening rules on the use of cocaine and other drugs. In the piece, headlined “When it’s right to be a hypocrite”, he set out why he believed drug laws should not be repealed. | In a further embarrassment, the Observer reported that in 1999 Gove wrote an article in the Times setting out why he opposed what he called “London’s liberal consensus” on loosening rules on the use of cocaine and other drugs. In the piece, headlined “When it’s right to be a hypocrite”, he set out why he believed drug laws should not be repealed. |
| With the drugs story overshadowing his campaign, Gove said in the Sunday Telegraph that if he became prime minister he would scrap VAT and replace it with “a lower, simpler sales tax”. He said he would also cut business rates. | With the drugs story overshadowing his campaign, Gove said in the Sunday Telegraph that if he became prime minister he would scrap VAT and replace it with “a lower, simpler sales tax”. He said he would also cut business rates. |
| He said he would use “the money we get back from the EU” to invest in “towns and communities which have suffered most from de-industrialisation”, and introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system “to ensure the most innovative and gifted from across the globe can help us prosper”. | He said he would use “the money we get back from the EU” to invest in “towns and communities which have suffered most from de-industrialisation”, and introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system “to ensure the most innovative and gifted from across the globe can help us prosper”. |
| Gove’s supporters have said they suspect the cocaine story was leaked by the camp of one of the other candidates as part of a “dirty tricks” operation. | Gove’s supporters have said they suspect the cocaine story was leaked by the camp of one of the other candidates as part of a “dirty tricks” operation. |
| The environment secretary is to pitch himself as a “unity candidate” capable of attracting leavers and remainers, as he formally declared his candidacy saying: “I believe that I’m ready to unite the Conservative and Unionist party, ready to deliver Brexit and ready to lead this great country.” But robust Brexiters in particular dislike the fact that he stayed loyal even in the final days of the crumbling May regime. | The environment secretary is to pitch himself as a “unity candidate” capable of attracting leavers and remainers, as he formally declared his candidacy saying: “I believe that I’m ready to unite the Conservative and Unionist party, ready to deliver Brexit and ready to lead this great country.” But robust Brexiters in particular dislike the fact that he stayed loyal even in the final days of the crumbling May regime. |
| He received 37 votes in the first round, coming third. | |
| The health secretary remains a relative outsider, but the longer the race goes on, the more he gains ground for the seemingly basic virtues of being apparently competent and broadly similar to a normal human being, albeit a particularly energetic one. A concerted effort would probably require an image consultant. | The health secretary remains a relative outsider, but the longer the race goes on, the more he gains ground for the seemingly basic virtues of being apparently competent and broadly similar to a normal human being, albeit a particularly energetic one. A concerted effort would probably require an image consultant. |
| He received 20 votes in the first round. | |
| Fears that the foreign secretary would be another overly woolly compromise choice were hardly assuaged when after a set-piece speech he seemed unable to outline why his brand of Conservatism might appeal to voters. Hunt has been backed by Liam Fox. | Fears that the foreign secretary would be another overly woolly compromise choice were hardly assuaged when after a set-piece speech he seemed unable to outline why his brand of Conservatism might appeal to voters. Hunt has been backed by Liam Fox. |
| He received 43 votes in the first round, placing him second. | |
| The home secretary still has the same weaknesses: he is an uninspiring speaker and some worry he is too fond of headline-grabbing, illiberal political gestures. But he is almost as ubiquitous as Liz Truss, and clearly believes this is his time. | The home secretary still has the same weaknesses: he is an uninspiring speaker and some worry he is too fond of headline-grabbing, illiberal political gestures. But he is almost as ubiquitous as Liz Truss, and clearly believes this is his time. |
| He received 23 votes in the first round. | |
| The out-and-out favourite, so popular with the Tory grassroots that it would be hard for MPs to not make Johnson one of the final two. He has been relatively quiet recently, beyond his regular Telegraph column, but this is very deliberate. | The out-and-out favourite, so popular with the Tory grassroots that it would be hard for MPs to not make Johnson one of the final two. He has been relatively quiet recently, beyond his regular Telegraph column, but this is very deliberate. |
| Johnson won the first round with 114 votes. | |
| The former work and pensions secretary, who quit last year over May’s Brexit plans, has launched her own in-party campaign group/leadership vehicle called Blue Collar Conservatism, promising to make the party more amenable to voters in deprived communities – mainly through a promise to deliver a strong Brexit and policies such as diverting much of the foreign aid budget to schools and police. | The former work and pensions secretary, who quit last year over May’s Brexit plans, has launched her own in-party campaign group/leadership vehicle called Blue Collar Conservatism, promising to make the party more amenable to voters in deprived communities – mainly through a promise to deliver a strong Brexit and policies such as diverting much of the foreign aid budget to schools and police. |
| Raab got 27 votes in the first round. | |
| Few things say “would-be leader in waiting” like a kitchen photoshoot with your spouse, and the former Brexit secretary duly obliged with this imageawash with tasteful pastel hues. He formally launched his bid in the Mail on Sunday. Among the more core constituency of Conservative MPs, Raab has been pushing hard, as has his semi-official “Ready for Raab” Twitter feed. | Few things say “would-be leader in waiting” like a kitchen photoshoot with your spouse, and the former Brexit secretary duly obliged with this imageawash with tasteful pastel hues. He formally launched his bid in the Mail on Sunday. Among the more core constituency of Conservative MPs, Raab has been pushing hard, as has his semi-official “Ready for Raab” Twitter feed. |
| Stewart got 19 votes in the first round. | |
| The episode led to other candidates being asked about whether they had used drugs. Dominic Raab, who has already admitted taking cannabis as a student, told the BBC: “It was a long time ago and pretty few and far between. I have never taken cocaine or any class-A drugs.” | The episode led to other candidates being asked about whether they had used drugs. Dominic Raab, who has already admitted taking cannabis as a student, told the BBC: “It was a long time ago and pretty few and far between. I have never taken cocaine or any class-A drugs.” |
| Andrea Leadsom said in a statement: “I have never taken cocaine or class-A drugs. Everyone is entitled to a private life before becoming an MP.” | Andrea Leadsom said in a statement: “I have never taken cocaine or class-A drugs. Everyone is entitled to a private life before becoming an MP.” |
| Javid said he had never taken any drugs. Rory Stewart has said he smoked opium while travelling in Iran. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has said he once drank a cannabis lassi in India. | Javid said he had never taken any drugs. Rory Stewart has said he smoked opium while travelling in Iran. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has said he once drank a cannabis lassi in India. |
| Boris Johnson admitted in a GQ interview in 2007 he had tried cocaine and cannabis while at university, saying it “achieved no pharmacological, psychotropic or any other effect on me whatsoever”. | Boris Johnson admitted in a GQ interview in 2007 he had tried cocaine and cannabis while at university, saying it “achieved no pharmacological, psychotropic or any other effect on me whatsoever”. |
| He later changed his story, saying he was offered a “white substance” at university but none went up his nose because he sneezed. He said he had “no idea whether it was cocaine or not” and it could have been icing sugar. | He later changed his story, saying he was offered a “white substance” at university but none went up his nose because he sneezed. He said he had “no idea whether it was cocaine or not” and it could have been icing sugar. |
| Michael Gove | Michael Gove |
| Conservative leadership | Conservative leadership |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Sajid Javid | Sajid Javid |
| Drugs policy | Drugs policy |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Dominic Raab | Dominic Raab |
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