Labour and Tory members play games while drug crisis deepens

6.14.00pm GMT Wed 17th Mar 2004

Graham Tope, Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, has accused Tory and Labour London Assembly members of playing political games rather than debating how to tackle the capital's drug crisis.

Commenting on Tory and Labour members voting in favour of a motion condemning Simon Hughes MP for remarks he made on drugs during a magazine debate, Graham Tope said:

"Once again the Tories and Labour Assembly members have preferred to play political games rather than address the serious issue of drug abuse and drug-related crime.

"The problems associated with drugs are estimated to cost the capital £2.5 billion per year. Yet successive Conservative and Labour governments have failed to curb drug abuse - the UK now has one of the highest rates of abuse in the whole of Europe.

"What is needed is an honest and frank debate on how London should tackle what is a growing problem, not tiresome political game-playing by Assembly members. "

ENDS

Notes to editor

The motion was debated at today's London Assembly meeting. The Liberal Democrats proposed the following amended motion:

This Assembly notes that that under successive Tory and Labour governments drug use continues to rise, drug related crime continues to rise and the estimated social and economic cost of drug use in London has now risen to some £2.5billion pounds a year.

We note the comments made by Simon Hughes MP, which opens up the necessary debate about the best way to tackle drug addiction, and drug related crime in London.

This Assembly does, however, believe that more needs to be done to help people addicted to drugs to access specialised clinics and care programmes.

The Assembly therefore encourages all Londoners to engage in honest and level headed debate about how best to tackle the drugs problem in the capital, and calls upon politicians, agencies, the media and the public to become involved."