CONTENDERS to be the next Prime Minister have been accused of “hypocrisy” over drug policy and told they must back plans to let Glasgow open a Safe Drug Consumption Facility.

Leadership challengers have admitted taking various drugs, including Michael Gove taking cocaine, Rory Stewart, opium and Andrea Leadsom taking cannabis.

Boris Johnson has previously admitted using cocaine, while Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock and Esther McVey all admitted they had taken cannabis.

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Alison Thewliss, SNP Glasgow East MP has called on the Tories to stop “playing politics” with drug use and back Glasgow in its effort to reduce harm from problem drug use.

Ms Thewliss said she has written to Sajid Javid, Home Secretary and leadership contender, who said he has never taken any illegal drugs.

She said: “The Tories must stop playing politics on drug use - and back the long-overdue action needed to tackle addiction and reduce health risks.

“Recent headlines have exposed the gross hypocrisy of the Tory leadership candidates, some of whom have taken cocaine and other drugs themselves, while criminalising other drug users and blocking vital measures that would help prevent harm.”

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Ms Thewliss highlighted the increase in people injecting cocaine and heroin in Glasgow, particularly in her constituency where the SDCF could be located, which she said has fuelled an increase in HIV and Hepatitis C.

She invited the Home Secretary to visit the area and see for himself the scale of the problem and why a new public health approach was needed.

She added: “Drug policy at Westminster is failing the people who need the most help. There is cross-party consensus for action on this problem, and plans for a facility in Glasgow have been unanimously backed by Councillors. The only remaining barrier is the Tory government’s unwillingness to grant the exemption needed to move ahead with this important facility.”

Last year’s figures saw the highest number of drugs related deaths in Glasgow and across Scotland. Most of the deaths involved more than one drug and heroin or other opiates was the drug most often present.

There were 170 drug related deaths in Glasgow and an increase in cocaine injecting was noted in the report.

The Safe Drug Consumption Facility would allow people to bring heroin into the centre and inject it under supervised conditions.

Where SCDFs have been used in Europe there has been a decrease in fatal overdoses and a reduction in public drug taking.

The Home Office in a report has accepted the positive outcomes of consumption rooms but the Government also said it will not implement anything that promotes the illegal trade in drugs.