Scottish Politicians Admit Taking Drugs

During a debate on drugs at Glasgow University, held by the Politics Society, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie were asked if they'd taken drugs.

The confessions commenced and Nicola Sturgeon said:

"I think I am actually on record as making an admission on this one — once, probably, possibly at this university, but in this Union I have to say."

Adding, "it made me awful sick so I didn't do it again".

The same question was posed to Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie that brought cheers from the audience when without hesitating he said:

"Yes…in my youthful days". 

But it was down to Labour leader Jim Murphy to be coy. But by trying to dodge the question, Mr Murphy brought glue sniffing into the debate. Mr Murphy told students: "In the housing scheme where I lived, glue sniffing was the thing."

Having herself just admitted smoking pot, Scotland's First Minister tried to prise more information from Mr. Murphy, asking: "Did you?"

The Labour leader replied:

"I don't remember. It was just a working class thing to do — sniffing glue out of crisp pokes. It was a dreadful, harmful thing that was in that community at that time."

Tory leader Ruth Davidson answered the same question rhetorically — but when asked more directly, added: "I'm with Nicola — once or twice. It made me really sick."

The leaders of Scotland's three main political parties were taking part in a discussion about research by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, suggesting that £900 million a year could be raised by taxing a regulated cannabis market.