Home Secretary James Cleverly made ‘joke’ about giving spouse date-rape drug
Home Secretary James Cleverly joked about giving his spouse a date-rape drug, simply hours after saying a crackdown on the rising epidemic of drinks spiking.
The prime Tory informed feminine friends at a No10 reception that “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit”. Mr Cleverly additionally laughed that the key to an extended marriage was making certain your partner was “someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there.”
He mentioned he realised he seemed like he was selling “spiking”. His spokesman brushed apart his feedback as “an ironic joke” But Mr Cleverly’s disgusting jibe got here on the identical day he vowed to strengthen the regulation to offer spiking victims the boldness to return ahead.
Now indignant campaigners – battling against the law they described as an epidemic in a parliamentary inquiry final yr – are calling on Rishi Sunak to research his Cabinet minister’s behaviour. Colin Mackie, chair of Spike Aware UK, who misplaced a toddler via drink spiking, mentioned he was completely livid at Mr Cleverly’s remarks. He mentioned: “Spiking isn’t a joking matter. It’s an appalling thing for the Home Secretary to say, especially when we’re trying to get changes to the law.”
(
Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
(
Getty Images)
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which is having a devastating impact on young women’s lives. It is truly unbelievable that the Home Secretary made such appalling jokes on the very same day the Government announced new policy on spiking. It suggests that despite being the Cabinet Minister ultimately responsible for tackling violence against women and girls he doesn’t get how serious this is.”
Rohypnol, together with together with nervous system depressant GHB, has turn into infamous as a date-rape drug. Known as “roofies”, they’re used legally for medical sedation however possession and not using a prescription carries a most two years in jail. They are repeatedly used as a weapon in rape and different critical crimes.
Mr Cleverly’s “ironic joke” got here on the identical day he sat within the Commons as his Home Office minister Laura Farris gave a press release on altering the regulation to sort out spiking.
In a Home Office press launch on the announcement Mr Cleverly, 54, mentioned: “The public should be under no illusion – spiking is a serious offence and I urge anyone who suspects they have been a victim of this to contact the police now. This Government has already gone further than ever before to protect the public from harm, and ensuring that women and girls can live their lives free from fear is one of my top priorities as Home Secretary.”
Shock spiking figures
Rising spiking figures present practically 6,800 offences reported within the 12 months to May, in keeping with knowledge from National Police Chiefs’ Council. And a YouGov survey final yr discovered one in 10 ladies and one in 20 males mentioned they’d had drinks spiked.
Reynhard Sinaga, the UK’s most prolific rapist, was jailed in 2020 for drugging and raping 48 males after spiking their drinks, and filming himself attacking them. Sinaga, 40, was jailed for 60 years.
Serial killer Stephen Port, 48, was branded “wicked and monstrous” by a decide after luring 4 younger males again to his flat and poisoning them with deadly doses of GHB. He received an entire life jail time period in 2016.
Rapist John Worboys plied ladies with alcohol laced with sedatives earlier than assaulting them in his black cab. He is believed to have attacked greater than 100 ladies. He was jailed for all times in 2009.
The Home Office has mentioned it is going to change the regulation so it’s clear spiking is against the law “in every form, be that via food or drink, vape or by needle”. But Mr Mackie – who arrange Spike Aware with spouse Mandy after the suspected spiking demise of their son Greg whereas finding out at Edinburgh University in 2017 – mentioned: “He’s undermined Laura Farris as a colleague and what groups like us try to do. Any amount of Rohypnol is too much.
“Saying things like that gives a green light to people who think spiking isn’t an offence, which is why we’re trying to get a specific offence in law. Someone higher up must investigate.”
Women’s Aid mentioned: “We rely on political leaders to take action to end violence against women and girls and the misogyny that underpins it. It is vital that spiking survivors see ministers treating the subject seriously and not downplaying the reality so many women face.”
Conversations at Downing Street receptions are normally understood to be “off the record”. The Sunday Mirror determined to publish what Mr Cleverly mentioned as a result of we consider these are distinctive circumstances given his position as Home Secretary and the subject material. It is our obligation to tell readers of what was mentioned by the minister accountable for crime.
Mr Cleverly’s spokesman mentioned: “In what was always understood as a private conversation, the Home Secretary made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke – for which he apologises.”
Mr Cleverly confronted controversy inside weeks of his appointment final month when he was accused of calling Stockton a “s***hole” at PMQs. Mr Cleverly insisted he had truly been shouting that MP Alex Cunningham was a “s*** MP”.
