{"id":47267,"date":"2021-12-18T19:41:04","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T19:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/?p=47267"},"modified":"2021-12-18T19:41:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-18T19:41:30","slug":"traces-of-cocaine-found-in-parliament-following-announcement-of-drug-strategy-overhaul-aimed-at-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/traces-of-cocaine-found-in-parliament-following-announcement-of-drug-strategy-overhaul-aimed-at-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Traces of Cocaine found in Parliament, Following announcement of drug strategy overhaul aimed at recovery\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following a \u2018Sunday Times\u2019 article, Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he would investigate Westminster\u2019s drug culture after traces of cocaine were detected in a number of places accessible only to people with authorisation, specifically areas where only the Home Secretary (Sajid Javid) and PM (Boris Johnson) would have access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, published by Sunday Times, detailed that traces of the Class A substance where found in 11 out of 12 bathrooms tested. Tests were conducted in several locations including a lavatory close to the PM\u2019s office, using drug detection wipes. The report, mentioning household names and young MP\u2019s as a part of a wider problem in Westminster, dubbed \u201ccocaine culture\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The accounts of drug misuse in Parliament given to the Sunday Times are deeply concerning — and I will be raising them as a priority with the Metropolitan Police this week,” stated Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who \u201cexpect[s] to see full and effective enforcement of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An un-named source told Sunday Times, “I have seen an MP (member of Parliament) openly snorting cocaine at a party, There were journalists present and I warned them that what they were doing was extremely dangerous and they could be exposed but they seemed to get off on the power trip.” The report also said that cannabis was being “used openly” at Westminster and the smell of cannabis can be smelt on the streets close to the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many have criticised the government, as Boris Johnson, dressed as a police officer, announced new plans to help combat drug use and addiction, a hallmark 10-year strategy, allocating \u00a3780m in funding for the drug treatment system in England. The strategy also includes a \u00a3300million budget with the aim to eradicate \u201ccounty lines\u201d gangs which exploit young people across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twitter users have been quick to highlight the hypocrisy and irony in the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/Penybryn01\/status\/1467821290396524550\n<\/div>
Source: Penybryn01 & Boris Johnson via Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words by Hassan Qadeer | Subbed by Raheela Ali<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following a \u2018Sunday Times\u2019 article, Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he would investigate Westminster\u2019s drug culture after traces of cocaine were detected in a number of places accessible only to people…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","category-uncategorised"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t