Lib-Dem minister Ed Davey reignites Coalition row over drug laws

 
Joseph Watts21 June 2013
WEST END FINAL

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A coalition split opened up today after Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey suggested crime barons were “making billions” due to failing drug laws.

He is unconvinced the “war on drugs” has been won and ministers should debate whether certain substances could be decriminalised, he said.

On BBC1’s Question Time last night, Mr Davey said: “There are still thousands of people dying from drugs, they scar communities, there are drug barons who are making billions.

“I think we do need to review the drug laws. I think we need to look at the evidence.”

A policy rift emerged at the end of last year when Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the Lib-Dem leader, said the war on drugs was being lost and called for David Cameron to set up a Royal

Commission to review narcotics laws — a move the Prime Minister said he was not in favour of.

The Home Secretary, Tory Theresa May, is also against any rethink.

However, a bid to bridge the coalition split has seen Lib-Dem Home Office minister Jeremy Browne given the job of exploring how drug laws work in other countries. He is expected to report later this year.

Conservative backbencher Philip Davies said: “Ed Davey is entitled to his opinion. That’s what the Lib-Dems believe, they want to legalise drugs. I think that would be a catastrophe.

“The idea that if you legalise them drug dealers will pack up and just start knitting or something is laughable. You will be legitimising some deeply unpleasant people.”

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