Labour minister in 'jaw-dropping' U-turn on drug consumption rooms
Diana Johnson, for the Home Office, was confronted with her own words backing the facilities at a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee on Tuesday morning.
LibDem Angus McDonald said his 'jaw had just dropped open' after Johnson repeatedly ruled out reforming drug laws and suggested that the UK Government would not consider changes even if the Thistle Centre trial in Glasgow proved a success.
Asked what the Government's response would be if the facility showed a reduction in viruses such as HIV, she said: 'We do not support drug consumption facilities, it's not our policy, we do not want to, we will not be amending the Misuse of Drugs Act.'
McDonald said: 'My jaw has just dropped open with that. If the Thistle turns out to be a great success within a year, I would be so excited about rolling that out everywhere and I wouldn't wait for two and a half years; 1100 people are dying per year.
"It's working all round the world, as far as I understand it. I think it's the most wonderful way of cutting drug deaths and then we can work at rehabilitation.
'Why wouldn't we want to follow that?'
Johnson said that the Glasgow scheme was a pilot and its results had to be evaluated, adding: 'This is not UK Government policy, it's obviously something that the Scottish Government have decided to do.'
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McDonald said Labour's position was 'basically condemning thousands of people to death', to which Johnson replied: 'No, I don't accept that, with the greatest respect.
'This is not the only thing that can be done to deal with drug misuse.'
Johnson also squirmed under questioning from the SNP's Stephen Flynn, who pressed her on what evidence had made her change her mind on drug consumption facilities.
Before Labour came to power, Johnson (below) chaired the Home Affairs Committee, which produced a report which said the Scottish and UK governments 'must' work together on a drug consumption facility.
(Image: BBC)
Flynn asked repeatedly what evidence had changed, to which Johnson replied that her personal views were 'irrelevant', arguing that she was a mouthpiece for the Government position.
The SNP's Westminster leader said: 'Do you think the public watching would regard it as acceptable that a government minister is quite happy to change their opinion on such a significant matter […] on the basis of no evidence changing whatsoever?'
McDonald interjected to say he agreed with Flynn's point adding: 'I think this is a moral stance.'
Johnson replied: 'With the greatest respect, as a member of the party that was in government that oversaw and joined in with the Conservatives the massive cuts to drug treatment services between 2010 and 2015, I think you should just reflect on the position that Scotland is in because of the decisions that your party took at that time.'
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