TORIES CLASH OVER CANNABIS CAFES PLAN

Rayleigh MP Dr Michael Clark has branded his Tory colleague Teresa Gorman
"irresponsible" after she spoke in favour of cannabis cafes. Mrs Gorman, the
veteran Tory MP for Billericay, has added her name in support of a
controversial Commons' motion which would effectively legalise recreational
use of the drug in cafes across the UK.

Dr Clark said the move was wrong and caved in to minority wishes at the
expense of the majority in society.

He was backed by Castle Point's Parliamentary hopeful Dr Bob Spink - also a
Tory - who claimed Mrs Gorman had "lost it". Dr Clark said: "I am totally
opposed to it and I am very sorry and disappointed that a neighbouring
Conservative member of Parliament should be taking an irresponsible attitude
of this type. "In modern society, you don't give way to immoral behaviour,
you try to control it. Otherwise, we are talking about having legalised
brothels, being more tolerant of rioters and legalising drugs.

"That is giving way to small minorities which is not the wish of the
majority and the majority must speak out." Dr Clark said that during his
work at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, he had seen
evidence that so-called "soft" drugs lead to "hard" drug habits. Mrs Gorman
has given her backing to licensed cafes to be set up on a trial basis. She
said: "There are many people in Essex whose homes are burgled, people whose
bags or watches are snatched and these crimes are mainly done by drug users
trying to find the money for what is at present an illegal pastime. "In my
view, it would be better to allow these people to indulge their particular
habits. I can't think of a bad reason for doing that."

The Commons motion is co-sponsored by senior Welsh backbencher Paul Flynn
and Ann Clwyd, MP for the Cynon Valley. It has been signed by 13 other MPs -
including three Conservatives.