HAGUE TAKES HARD STANCE ON DRUGS

AUTOMATIC life sentences for drug dealers who are twice convicted of
supplying hard drugs to children are to be proposed by William Hague in a
toughening of Tory law and order policies.

The Conservative leader is said to feel "passionately" that stronger action
is needed to curb the sale of drugs to children. The Tory proposal would
mean that such drug dealers - whom he regards as some of the worst criminals
in society - would be liable to the same prison terms as rapists, murderers
or armed robbers.

Mr Hague and his shadow cabinet will meet next week to approve a series of
policy initiatives on law and order, education, the economy, welfare and the
constitution intended to show that the Tories are drawing up policies that
are distinctive from Labour's.

The draconian line on drugs has been prompted by a Home Office report
showing that drugs are an increasing problem among children. A recent survey
showed that 50 per cent of 16-year-olds had tried cannabis at least once,
while one in 10 had tried ecstasy. A quarter of 14-year-olds had tried
cannabis. Around two per cent in both groups had tried heroin or cocaine at
least once.

Mr Hague is proposing that for the first time there should be a specific
penalty for an adult supplying drugs to those aged under 18, with an
exemplary sentence for those who receive two convictions for pushing drugs
to children. Under present legislation introduced by the Tories when they
were in power, anyone aged 18 or over who is convicted of dealing in a Class
A drug - heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD or crack - for a third time receives
an immediate sentence of seven years.

The Tories want to strengthen that sentence. They are proposing that
persistent drug dealers should be treated in the same category as those
convicted for the second time for a serious sexual or violent offence (rape,
murder or armed robbery), who receive an automatic life sentence other than
in exceptional circumstances. Meanwhile, those adults convicted for the
third time of supplying class B drugs - cannabis or amphetamines such as
speed - to children would receive a seven-year minimum prison sentence.

Tory officials said Mr Hague's belief was that such exemplary sentences
could help to "nip drug use in the bud" by stopping children from being
supplied with them.

Mr Hague believes that his stand on drugs will highlight his determination
to take a stand on law and order, if necessary angering what he believes are
"liberal do-gooders". He also hopes it will show that tough rhetoric from
Tony Blair's Government is not matched by policies or action on the ground.

The meeting of the shadow cabinet in Aylesbury on Tuesday and Wednesday will
be followed by a meeting of all Tory MPs in Leeds the following week to
discuss the new policy initiatives. These will then be submitted to the
party conference in Blackpool next month and published in a policy document.

Mr Hague yesterday visited a grant-maintained school in west London to
highlight what he claimed were Government-inspired cutbacks in such schools'
budgets.