CAMERON PUNISHED OVER ETON DRUGS

David Cameron was disciplined as a pupil at Eton College when he
became embroiled in a drugs scandal.

David Cameron has always refused to confirm or deny suggestions that
he took drugs when young

The disclosure is a potential embarrassment for Mr Cameron, 40, who
has had a scandal-free personal life since he was elected Tory leader
14 months ago.

The incident happened in June 1982. It is understood that the school
carried out an internal inquiry into drug-taking after police said
Etonians had been going to nearby Slough to buy cannabis. The then
15-year-old Cameron was suspected of smoking the drug and, when
questioned by a senior teacher, the future Tory leader is understood
to have admitted it.

He could have been expelled, but instead was fined and "gated" -
confined to the college grounds and stripped of "privileges". Seven
other boys were asked to leave the school. The disclosure will be
made later this year in an unauthorised biography of Mr Cameron.

During the Tory leadership election in 2005, there were repeated
rumours that Mr Cameron had dabbled with cannabis and cocaine before
becoming an MP in 2001.

advertisementMr Cameron has always refused to confirm or deny
suggestions that he took drugs when he was younger.

A source close to Mr Cameron confirmed that he had been involved in a
drugs scandal at Eton.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: "Politicians are
entitled to a private life before they were elected."