UK Minister James Cleverly Faces Backlash for Joking About Spiking Wife’s Drink with Date Rape Drug
UK Interior Minister James Cleverly has come under fire after making a controversial joke about spiking his wife’s drink at a gathering in 10 Downing Street. The incident took place on December 18, just hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking, which involves secretly adding drugs to someone’s drink without their consent.
During the event, Cleverly reportedly told female guests that adding “a little bit of Rohypnol” to his wife’s drink every night was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit.” He further suggested that keeping his partner mildly sedated would ensure she doesn’t realize there are better men out there. The comments drew strong criticism from politicians, particularly those from the Labour Party.
It is worth noting that discussions at Downing Street receptions are usually considered “off the record” and not meant for media coverage. However, the Sunday Mirror chose to defy this tradition due to the nature of Cleverly’s remarks and his position in the government.
Following the backlash, Cleverly issued an apology for his comments. A spokesperson for the minister clarified that it was meant to be an ironic joke and apologized for any offense caused. Nevertheless, politicians, including Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding Alex Davies-Jones and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, condemned Cleverly’s remarks, calling for a cultural change to address violence against women and girls.
This is not the first time Cleverly has faced controversy. In November, he apologized for breaching politeness rules in the UK parliament after making derogatory comments about a Labour MP. The source close to Cleverly clarified that the remark was directed at the MP, not the constituency itself.
The incident has sparked a wider discussion on the seriousness of spiking and the need for greater awareness and prevention.
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