SNP blasted for failing to focus on priorities of Scots with latest policy

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.

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”.

Scottish 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.