Dear Jacqui Smith,
Everyone knew it at the time, and just a few days later we have the evidence to prove it. On the 30th of March this year, you told the BBC that ”it’s fundamentally important that we listen”. On the 2nd of May, Uncle Gordon said that ”my job is to listen and to lead” following Labour’s double humiliation at the local and mayoral elections, and on the 4th of May he reiterated this by stating ”we’ve got to listen and learn”. My question to you is this: if listening is so important, why has cannabis been upgraded to a Class B drug?
It is plainly obvious to anyone with a shred of intelligence that the current drug classification system is not fit for purpose. Last year, a new drug ranking system was created that reflects the level of harm to the individual and society in addition to the degree of addiction. This seemed perfectly sensible, yet the government did not listen. You would think that, given a second chance, the government might get it right this time but you blew it again. The chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said moving cannabis from Class C to Class B “is neither warranted, nor will it achieve its desired effect”. Did you listen? Nope. Not even the slightest hint that you have listened to the council that advises the government on the dangers of drugs.
I’m not even remotely surprised that you screwed up on this issue. Everyone knew deep down that your supposed belief in ‘listening’ was a facade and now we have the evidence to back up our assertions. It would be much appreciated if you didn’t lie to the public in future - we don’t appreciate it.
Yours sincerely,
A.Tory
5 responses so far ↓
Blue Eyes // May 8, 2008 at 9:49 am
I agree with all of that. What is the point in having expert advice if all you want to do is look tough for the Daily Mail? Why didn’t he just say in the first place “I think it was a mistake, my policy is to be less liberal with drugs because they are a scourge on society” if that’s what he actually thought?
Letters From A Tory // May 8, 2008 at 10:05 am
That’s a very good point. This wasn’t a decision based on principles or philosophy - it was just a headline grabber to distract from the disastrous election results and appeal to the Sun / Daily Mail readers.
asquith // May 8, 2008 at 10:53 am
I agree with both of you. Smith couldn’t care less about cutting crime and defending civilised society, she just wants to placate the usual moralists. That, and her authoritarian instincts which come with the Labour territory. There really is nothing that this government won’t do.
Even though I don’t smoke weed, it’s a symptom of what they are like.
Letters From A Tory // May 8, 2008 at 12:35 pm
To be fair, I think cannabis is far more dangerous than the pro-liberalisation lobby dare to admit, but in the context of this current (and woefully inadequate) classification system it all comes across as political posturing.
If only Labour did something for the right reasons…
Joe // May 8, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Although I don’t agree with a lot of what you say, you couldn’t have said that better.
You are 100% right in saying Gordon doesn’t listen to a damn word.
Cannabis IS dangerous - I know this from first hand experience, but I feel that it only effects certain people and all police forces have their own take on the Cannabis laws anyway… so why change it and turn even more voters away?
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