Darling admits using cannabis at university

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling has admitted he was an "occasional" cannabis user when he was younger.

The Edinburgh South West MP said he did not like the taste, but was driven by curiosity.

He admitted he tried cannabis while at Aberdeen University, where he was president of the Student Union.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Darling said: "It was nothing special. I didn't like the taste."

Asked how it made him feel, he replied: "Mildly relaxed. It never did much for me. It was curiosity, really. I was never tempted to try anything stronger."

In 2007, Downing Street said it was a "personal matter" for ministers whether they responded to questions about drug taking.

Labour MPs who have admitted smoking cannabis in the past include Jacqui Smith, Andy Burnham and Charles Clarke. Tory leader David Cameron also faced allegations he was one of a group of Eton pupils reprimanded for smoking cannabis at school.