Fatboy Slim and dozens of MPs and nightlife chiefs have written to Suella Braverman accusing the Home Office of a "shortsighted and dangerous" decision to block drug testing at music festivals.
The chart-topping DJ and producer warns that testing at events "undoubtedly saves lives" and "significantly reduces the risk of overdoses".
They accuse the Home Office of obstructing on-site testing by insisting licences are in place - but officials deny this, saying it has always been the case and it's down to organisers to work with local police on safe testing.
The dance music star, real name Norman Cook, was joined by 31 MPs - including three Tories - voicing alarm after the Parklife Festival in Manchester had no testing lab for the first time since 2014.
Parklife founder Sacha Lord posted on Twitter that this "drags us back into the 80s".
He said: "If there is a drugs related death at a festival in the UK this season, I will be writing to Suella Braverman asking her to explain to the parents, why she took this decision on something that could possibly have saved their child's life."
In a statement the Home Office said it has "consistently made clear" the need for a licence and a spokesman told The Mirror that agreements are in place for other events this summer.
It said contrary to the letter's claims, it has never banned drug testing at events.
A letter, co-ordinated by Labour's Sam Tarry, told the Home Secretary: “As you will know, since 2014 festival organisers have tested drugs, confiscated by the police or security, in a cabin on site.
"If these tests show that the drugs are a serious threat to health, push notifications are sent to festivalgoers, warning them that the drug is dangerous and should not be taken.
"This service undoubtably saves lives, by helping drug users make better informed choices and significantly reduces the risk of overdoses,”
Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and Conservatives Crispin Blunt, Caroline Dinenage - a former Government minister - and Adam Holloway, are among the cross-party MPs calling for a re-think.
The letter continues: "Regardless of your position or personal beliefs on drug usage, the simple fact remains that people will take them, and especially so at festivals this summer.
"The decision to prevent this testing from going ahead is short-sighted and dangerous."
In a statement the Home Office said it has always been the case that event organisers need to have a licence.
It said: “Our position hasn’t changed. Drug testing providers must have a licence to test for controlled drugs, including at festivals.
“We have consistently made this condition clear, and law enforcement have always had a responsibility to uphold this legal requirement.
“We continue to keep an open dialogue with any potential applicants.
"Festivals aiming to test drugs off their site this summer must work with the police and a Home Office licensed drug testing provider.”
Back in 2018 The Mirror visited a drug testing cabin run by charity The Loop at the Parklife Festival.
Less than two hours after the two-day festival opened, notorious Blue Punisher ecstasy pills – containing a potentially-fatal amount of MDMA – were discovered onsite.
The revelations meant real-time warnings could be put out on social media and across the site in Heaton Park, Manchester.
Professor Fiona Measham, who founded the organisation, said: "All the people here are volunteers.
"They're here because they think what we do is important, and we hope that what we do can save lives.
"It's great that we're able to access events like this to help get a real picture of what drugs are being sold, and how quickly they are being distributed."
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