Another drug story could scupper Cameron

Another drugs story could leave David Cameron high and dry, a new poll shows

Thursday, 15, Feb 2007 12:00

News that David Cameron used drugs after he left university or experimented with substances more serious than cannabis would hurt his popularity, new figures show.

A Populus poll for the Times today reveals the vast majority of the population is unconcerned by stories this weekend that the Conservative leader may have tried cannabis in school, but there are limits to what will be forgiven.

While 81 per cent of voters do not think it matters if Mr Cameron smoked cannabis at school or university and 85 per cent think he should not have to answer "detailed questions about whether he tried drugs in his youth" the picture changes when more serious drugs are involved.

Almost two Britons in three (64 per cent) think it would matter if "he had experimented with more serious drugs" while at school or university and 71 per cent said it would matter if he used drugs "as an adult, after he started work".

This weekend a new biography claimed the Tory leader smoked cannabis while at secondary school, and was disciplined by teachers after confessing his misdeed.

Following the allegations Mr Cameron said: "Like many people I did things when I was young that I shouldn't have done and that I regret. But I do believe that politicians are entitled to a past that is private and that remains private and so I won't be making any commentary on what's in the newspapers today.

"That's really all I have to say."

Younger voters are more supportive of Mr Cameron's stance on cannabis than older ones, with 90 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds thinking a schoolboy transgression is unimportant, compared with 71 per cent of over-55s.

More youthful Britons are also less bothered about more serious drugs, with only 53 per cent of 18 to 34s bothered by this, compared with 71 per cent of over 55s.

The Populus poll found women are more concerned about the prospect of the leader of the opposition using more serious drugs, with 69 per cent saying this would matter compared with 59 per cent for men.