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Ex-minister Norman Baker publishes Home Office advice 'blocked' by Theresa May Ex-minister Norman Baker publishes drug plans 'blocked' by Theresa May
(about 2 hours later)
Former minister Norman Baker has released recommendations for reforming drugs policy which he says the home secretary suppressed. Former minister Norman Baker has released details of proposals for reforming drug laws which he says Home Secretary Theresa May suppressed.
The Lib Dem MP resigned as crime prevention minister in November, claiming Conservative colleagues had "repeatedly blocked" the release of proposals to relax current drug laws. Home Office officials drew up the suggestions for a report published in October but withheld them from the final version, according to Mr Baker.
He has now published three of the proposals which he says were blocked. A "Portuguese model" for treating rather than prosecuting minor drug offenders was among the plans, he says.
The Home Office denied officials had proposed decriminalising drugs. But the Home Office has denied such a recommendation was ever made.
When Mr Baker left his job, he made several criticisms of the home secretary, writing that the will "to work collegiately to take forward rational evidence-based policy" had been in "short supply". The Lib Dem MP resigned as crime prevention minister in November, claiming Conservative colleagues had "repeatedly blocked" the release of departmental research.
He was referring in particular to a Home Office report published in October, which found "no obvious" link between tough penalties and levels of illegal drug use. In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Saturday, Mr Baker urged his party leader to consider adopting three measures for reducing harmful drug use:
He accused the Conservatives of delaying the report and of excluding several suggestions for alternative approaches to curbing harmful drug use. He said the Home Office had drawn up these ideas for inclusion in its report comparing the UK's drugs policy to that of other countries.
The study concluded there was "no obvious" link between tougher sanctions and levels of drug use.
'Rapidly diminishing vote''Rapidly diminishing vote'
In a letter to Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Saturday, he outlined his backing for three suggestions which he said the Home Office had drawn up: In Mr Baker's letter, he took aim again at what he called "the Conservatives' unwillingness to consider reasonable, practical and proportionate proposals".
He underlined what he called "the Conservatives' unwillingness to consider reasonable, practical and proportionate proposals". The Home Office disputed that its officials had ever proposed introducing the Portuguese model in this country and insisted that the current drugs strategy was working.
Mr Baker argued the ideas should form part of the Lib Dem manifesto. A spokesman for the deputy prime minister offered some support for Mr Baker's position, stating: "For decades, governments have focused on sounding tough instead of doing what works to reduce drug use."
A spokesman for the deputy prime minister offered some support for his position, stating: "For decades, governments have focused on sounding tough instead of doing what works to reduce drug use."
"We believe we should treat users as people with a problem in need of help.""We believe we should treat users as people with a problem in need of help."
A Conservative Party spokesman accused the Tories' coalition partners of pandering "to their rapidly diminishing core vote".A Conservative Party spokesman accused the Tories' coalition partners of pandering "to their rapidly diminishing core vote".
The Home Office disputed that its officials had ever proposed introducing the Portuguese model in this country and insisted that the current drugs strategy was working.