DOUBTS CAST ON CALL TO LEGALISE DRUG

Maude Insists Issue Is For Party Debate

Michael Portillo's views on drugs were mired in confusion last night after
he rowed back on a suggestion that a "strong enough case" has been made for
legalising cannabis.

As MPs voted in the first round of the Tory leadership contest, the shadow
chancellor despatched his chief lieutenant, Francis Maude, to insist that
his remarks had been taken out of context.

Mr Maude's intervention came after Mr Portillo astonished Tory MPs on
Monday when he gave the impression that he was persuaded that the time for
the legalisation of cannabis had arrived.

Speaking to journalists after a speech in Finchley, north London, the Tory
leadership frontrunner said: "People are clearly debating this question
about whether or not marijuana should be legalised.

"I think a strong enough case has been made for legalisation on the basis
that marijuana is a drug that can be compared with alcohol and tobacco and
on the basis that kids are buying these things, and buying them from people
who are involved in a very dangerous drugs trade, simultaneously.

"A strong enough case has been made, but we have to look at this and I
propose that the party sit down, take evidence and reach a conclusion. I
hope that we will be seen, in doing that, as being a party that is open to
new thinking."

His remarks, to the London Evening Standard, which are out of step with the
majority of Tory MPs and the government, raised eyebrows because Mr
Portillo refused last week to say whether he supported legalisation.

On BBC1's Question Time last Thursday, he called for a debate on legalising
cannabis, but described the issue as "finely balanced".

Amid renewed questions over Mr Portillo's judgment, his campaign manager
insisted yesterday that he was calling for a debate rather than legalisation.

Claiming that Mr Portillo's remarks had been taken "totally out of
context", Mr Maude said: "Michael said, as he has repeatedly, that a strong
enough case has been made on legalising cannabis for this to be properly
considered and debated by the party.

"Michael has repeatedly made clear, in public and elsewhere, that he is not
convinced of this case."

Mr Maude's intervention went some way to calming Tory MPs who, in the words
of one, were wondering whether the shadow chancellor had "lost control".

However, members of the Portillo camp said he was determined to raise
issues such as the legalisation of drugs to demonstrate to the party that
he would overhaul its thinking across the board under his leadership.

In a speech to Tory MPs on Monday at Westminster, where he was tackled on
the drugs issue by the former cabinet minister Virginia Bottomley, Mr
Portillo said he would review the party's support for section 28, which
prevents local authorities from promoting homosexuality, and would push for
all-women shortlists in the selection of candidates.

"I don't agree with a lot of that, but this is about slaying sacred cows to
show what a moderniser Michael is," one of his chief supporters said.