A “FIERY” meeting has taken place between Scotland’s social justice minister and Suella Braverman over proposals to decriminalise all drugs for personal use, according to the Home Office.
The Scottish Government announced the plans on Friday aimed at helping to tackle Scotland’s high drug death rates, which also include a framework for the creation of safe consumption rooms and the consideration of implementing the regulated supply of drugs.
However, within just an hour of the announcement, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman had dismissed the calls to overhaul or devolve the legislation involved, which is reserved to Westminster.
In a meeting with Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville on Tuesday, the Home Secretary reiterated the UK Government’s stance and argued the Scottish Government’s proposals to decriminalise drugs for personal use would do “untold damage to our neighbourhoods”.
A spokesman for Somerville hit back, saying it was disappointing to see the proposals rejected again in such a "high-handed manner".
A readout of the meeting provided by the Home Office described the meeting as “fiery”.
“To be clear this government will not be changing our policy on personal use of illegal drugs,” Braverman said at the London meeting.
“I am very clear that illegal drugs destroy lives and communities – they are devastating.
“The proposals I read from the Scottish National Party last week are irresponsible and would do untold damage to our neighbourhoods.
“We’re focused on protecting people and preventing lives from being ruined, targeting gangs and preventing supply of drugs from overseas.
“We’ve absolutely no intention of decriminalising illegal drug use and I think the Scottish National Party should focus their efforts on what powers they do have such as reforming health outcomes for the Scottish people.
“Drug deaths are still a huge problem in Scotland and this government is keen to work together to try to tackle that problem and prevent the very levels of drug deaths in Scotland.”
According to the readout, Sommerville said the two Governments would always “fundamentally disagree” on drugs.
Scotland has had the highest level of drug-related deaths in Western Europe in recent years, with 1330 recorded in 2021 – the latest data set – and the Scottish Government is looking to more radical approaches to stem the tide.
A spokesman for Somerville said: “It is disappointing to see well-evidenced proposals once again being rejected in such a high-handed manner, without the UK Government even having gone to the bother of giving them proper consideration.
“This is a serious issue, and we all agree on the need to save lives and reduce harm – which we believe is best done by treating this as a public health issue.
“Westminster is out of touch with the general public, who rightly expect a mature and open-minded debate about the right way forward.
“The Scottish Government is ready and willing to work constructively with the UK Government, the political parties at Holyrood and of course stakeholders more widely to make progress.”
