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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
(about 16 hours 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’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. The environment secretary’s campaign plan was knocked off course by revelations about drug-taking. He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges.
He has sought to regain his place as the leading ‘Stop Boris’ with a series of policy pledges, from a new social insurance to pay for social care, to changing human rights law to prevent service personnel being pursued over historical crimes. He has better Brexiter credentials than Hunt, is liked by the moderate wing of the party, and is a better orator than almost any other candidate. Gove has privately reassured colleagues over recent months that he understands the devastating consequences of a no-deal Brexit, not least for his own environment department.
He has played up his senior role in the Vote Leave campaign, saying he had ‘led from the front’ because he believed it was ‘the right thing to do, at a critical moment in our history’. He has also stressed his background as a reformer, and promised to boost education funding and tackle social care funding – all pitches that could appeal to Stewartites, potentially enabling Gove to overtake Jeremy Hunt. 
On Brexit he has publicly discussed the idea of extending the Brexit deadline slightly beyond 31 October, if needed to finalise a deal. Has not completely ruled out a no-deal Brexit.
He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.He received 37 votes in the first round, 41 in the second, and 51 in the third round, placing him third each time.
The foreign secretary has made the case that he is the most serious and experienced would-be leader, in an apparent rebuke to his main rival, Boris Johnson.  Hunt’s team called his showing on Wednesday a 'fantastic result'. It was, in the sense that he avoided being overtaken by Gove, and that he picked up an extra eight votes from Tuesday’s showing of 46.
On Brexit he believes a new deal is possible by 31 October, and would send a new, cross-party negotiating team to Brussels. Would countenance leaving EU without a deal, but has warned that could lead to a confidence vote and potentially an election. But there is no doubt that after three rounds of voting Hunt would have hoped to be the obvious challenger to Johnson, whereas he was only narrowly ahead of Gove, with just three votes in it.
Hunt’s problem is he is seen as the continuity candidate, the safe pair of hands, when colleagues are starting to see the attraction of a new style.  The foreign secretary’s team are conscious that he risks appearing middle-of-the-road, with his rivals dismissing him as 'continuity May', or worse, Theresa in trousers, or 'Tit' for short.
He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.He received 43 votes in the first round and 46 votes in the second round. He continued to be in second place in the third round with 54 votes.
Javid struggled to define himself in the first days of the campaign, not a fresh face, not a safe pair of hands, or a true Brexit believer. But his campaign picked up, with the endorsement of popular Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, a polished leadership video telling the moving story of his background, and a lively launch speech. It was still only enough to place him fifth, though. Before his punchy performance in Tuesday’s debate Javid appeared vulnerable, with some allies fearing that he could be overtaken by Stewart, whose off-the-wall campaign style had helped him to remain in contention.
On Brexit, Javid says he wants to leave with a deal, but has talked down the idea of another extension and would be prepared to opt for no deal. But Javid scored one of the few clear victories amid the cacophony in the BBC studio, bouncing his four colleagues into promising an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in their party – a promise the winner will now be held to.
He is expected to make a new push to define himself as the change candidate who can talk to Tory voters in new places – though he may also be tempted to drop out to tuck in behind one of the frontrunners. It is hard to see how he could make it into the final two from this position. His campaign team professed themselves delighted with the result, and will now turn their attention to trying to win over Stewart’s backers, by stressing Javid’s liberal credentials.
However, one moderate former Tory minister, who had backed Javid in the first round because of personal loyalty, said: “I like him, but I can’t support him because I don’t agree with his politics – he’s a Thatcherite.”
He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.He received 23 votes in the first round, 33 votes in the second, and 38 in the third.
The former foreign secretary already has enough support to progress through to the members’ ballot. All Johnson needs to do is sit tight, keep his MPs sweet and try not to ruin it for himself. He has kept a low profile in the media and stayed in the tearooms and in his office, methodically talking round colleagues. His team know that one negative news cycle because of an off-guard comment could see his star plummet – and Johnson is more prone to those than most. Johnson’s progress to Downing Street appeared unstoppable even before last week’s first round of voting among MPs, and most of his colleagues believe it is now all but inevitable that he will be Britain’s next prime minister.
On Brexit he has promised the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, come what may, even without a deal if a new agreement cannot be reached in time. His well-disciplined campaign team will continue with their strategy of subjecting him to minimal media exposure, though once the field is narrowed down to two, the final pair will appear in more than a dozen head-to-head hustings for Tory members. The team’s main aim is simply to keep heads down and avoid Johnson creating headlines for the wrong reasons.
Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.Johnson won the first round with 114 votes, and the second round with 126 votes. He won the third round with 143 votes.
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 GoveMichael Gove
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
ConservativesConservatives
Sajid JavidSajid Javid
Drugs policyDrugs policy
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Dominic RaabDominic Raab
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