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Ex-minister Norman Baker publishes drug plans 'blocked' by Theresa May | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Former minister Norman Baker has released details of proposals for reforming drug laws which he says Home Secretary Theresa May suppressed. | |
Home Office officials drew up the suggestions for a report published in October but withheld them from the final version, according to Mr Baker. | |
A "Portuguese model" for treating rather than prosecuting minor drug offenders was among the plans, he says. | |
But the Home Office has denied such a recommendation was ever made. | |
The Lib Dem MP resigned as crime prevention minister in November, claiming Conservative colleagues had "repeatedly blocked" the release of departmental research. | |
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 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 Mr Baker's letter, he took aim again at 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. | |
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." | |
"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". |
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