SNP blasted for failing to focus on priorities of Scots with latest policy
The Scottish National Party has received backlash after calling for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use
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The SNP-led Scottish government has received backlash aftercalling for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use.
Scottish ministers want the UK Government to change laws to allow people found in possession of drugs to be "treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded".
In a press conference setting out the new policy in Edinburgh on Friday, Scotland’s drugs policy minister Elena Whitham declared: “The war on drugs has failed.”
The proposed law change is the SNP's latest attempt to tackle Scotland’s chronically high drug death rates.
The proposed law change by Elena Whitham is the SNP's latest attempt to tackle Scotland’s chronically high drug death rates
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Announcing the proposals, Whitham said: "Our current drug law does not stop people from using drugs, it does not stop people from experiencing the harm associated and, critically, it does not stop people from dying.
"In fact, I would say today here, that criminalisation increases the harms people experience. Criminalisation kills."
However, within an hour Downing Street dismissed their calls to overhaul or devolve the legislation, which is reserved to Westminster.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Rishi Sunak's administration had "no plans to alter our tough stance on drugs".
Tory MSP Russell Findlay told the Daily Record: "It is madness to try and solve Scotland's drug death crisis, the worst in Europe, by essentially legalising heroin, crack and other class-A drugs.
“This would put more drugs on our streets. It would put more lives at risk. What kind of message is the SNP sending to Scotland's drug-ravaged communities?"
Likewise, Labour also condemned the proposals with Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor saying: “I do not think this sounds like a good policy.
"I find it quite stunning that this would be a priority for the Scottish Government”.
Labour also condemned the proposals with Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor slamming the Scottish Government
GB NewsScottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said drug deaths are three times as high in Scotland as elsewhere in the UK despite the same drug laws.
“It’s [the Scottish government’s] cuts to alcohol and drug health partnerships, it’s their cuts to rehabilitation beds, it’s the failure to properly invest in mental health services,” he said.
The number of people who died of drug misuse in Scotland decreased slightly last year from 1,339 to 1,330 after eight consecutive years of increases. However, the country continues to have the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.