Former MP Crispin Blunt has pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of drugs, as he claimed he began going to chemsex parties to help inform government policy.
The 65-year-old former justice minister admitted to four drug charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, following a raid on his home in Horley, Surrey, in October 2023.
The former Conservative MP was found to have been in possession of the chemical drug GBL, a sedative, as well as cannabis, methamphetamine and methylamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth.
Blunt, who represented himself in court proceedings, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing class-A drugs and three charges of possessing class-B drugs.
But in a speech to the court lasting more than 30 minutes, he insisted that criminal charges should never have been brought against him, on the basis that all drugs should be legal.
He said he first took an interest in drug policy after being appointed as a justice minster in David Cameron’s government, and claimed that his “firsthand experience” – including hosting drug-fuelled chemsex parties at his home – had helped to inform his campaign for policy reform.
He said he had considered taking the case to a jury trial, telling the deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram that he believes politicians have failed to properly consider drug policy reform.
He also suggested that possession of drugs charges against a first-time offender usually end with an out-of-court caution, and hinted at a belief that his political views on drugs policy reform and transgender rights, along with his support for Palestinians, might lie behind the case being brought against him.
The drugs were found when police searched his home as part of an investigation into allegations of rape.
After an 18-month investigation, Surrey Police announced in May last year that no further action would be taken on the rape allegation as there was insufficient evidence.
Blunt said the charges against him came after he claimed to have fallen victim to a blackmail and extortion plot perpetrated by his drug dealer, who had accused him of rape.
Mr Ikram handed Blunt a £1,200 fine, telling him: “As a former minister for prisons, probation and justice, you – like all public servants – served as a role model to all.
“I do note your views and your position on prohibition of possession and usage of drugs. That said, I’m sure you, as a former parliamentarian, believe in the rule of law. The fact is your actions have risked undermining confidence in all parliamentarians by breaking the very laws you enacted.”
Blunt, who was pictured arriving at court on Wednesday wearing a charcoal-grey suit, a white shirt, and a purple tie, served as the MP for Reigate from 1997 until 2024.
During his time in parliament, he served in Mr Cameron’s government as parliamentary under secretary of state for prisons and youth justice from 2010 to 2012, and went on to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2015 until 2017.
He was also the first Tory MP to call for Liz Truss to stand down as prime minister following her disastrous mini-Budget, telling Channel 4 at the time: “The game is up.”
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He lost the Tory whip in October 2023 when he was first arrested by police, and stood down from parliament at the 2024 general election.
Before entering parliament, Blunt was a graduate of the Sandhurst Military Academy and spent more than a decade as an officer in the British army.
Prosecutor Zarah Dickinson said Blunt was “polite” and “calm” when his home was searched by police as they investigated an allegation that had been made against the MP following a chemsex party in September 2023.
“No charges were brought on those alleged offences,” she said.
In his police interview, Blunt said he took an interest in drugs after being appointed as a justice minister, and claimed to have used his “firsthand experience” to inform his work on policy reform.
“It was the first time he had come out as a gay man, and during his ministerial role he saw firsthand the harm caused by the government’s drug policy,” said Ms Dickinson, summarising his police interview.
“He began to take a professional interest in a policy that inflicted lasting harm on society. Then he began his involvement in the chemsex scene.
“His [firsthand] knowledge of [the] use of drugs was used to inform how policies could be implemented.”
