Monday, February 12, 2007
Can Law Makers Be Law Breakers?
Further speculation this week regarding David Cameron’s past use of drugs has again opened the question, what is and is not an acceptable past indiscretion for a leading public figure?
Ever since entering the Conservative Party leadership race in late September 2005, David Cameron has assiduously defended his “right to a private life before politics”. Allegations of drug use, both at University and now at Eton, have thus far caused a media storm but appeared to have done little to damage him politically. Both friend and foe have supported his clarion call for the freedom to enjoy youthful indiscretion so long as moral probity is exercised once in public life.
But is this distinction reasonable, and if so how great an indiscretion is acceptable? Cameron has drawn a clear line between behaviour in office and before it, confirming he has not taken drugs since being an MP. This does appear an important distinction; the principle that a public figures current private peccadilloes reflect their ability to govern with firm judgement and moral probity is broadly reasonable. However, were a leading politician to have committed a far more serious offence than smoking soft drugs casually when at school it would raise media and public pressure to come clean to a far greater level.
Smoking Cannabis recreationally, especially the weak Cannabis of twenty five years ago, would seem unlikely to change many British voters opinion of a politician. Mr Cameron’s defence of not commenting on his life before politics would therefore appear sound and politically shrewd; part or total confessions would only escalate the story with more questions. The distinction between private and public personal lives also seems ultimately fair; a nice balance of allowing a private citizen liberty and not scaring off potential political leaders, while offering the electorate a window into the inner character of our elected representatives. It just remains to be seen whether this distinction would hold up in the face of a media frenzy which would follow far more serious allegations about the past of a leading public figure.
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David Cameron should prove that he really is a 'liberal' Conservative and advocate legalising cannabis.
I think he probably used it when he was young and it doesn't seem to have done him any harm so other people should be allowed to.
I voted Lib Dem last time as I heard CK wanted to legalise cannabis.
I was a law breaker turned law-maker, so I suppose it can happen the other way around. For example, Maggie Thatcher and the Belgrano and Gibralta, and Tony Blair and his illegal war on Iraq spring to mind.