Michael Gove admits 'taking cocaine' on 'several occasions'

The Environment Secretary said he used the drug 20 years ago and branded it "a mistake". Credit: PA

Conservative leadership hopeful Michael Gove has said he "deeply regrets" taking cocaine "on several occasions".

The Environment Secretary said he used the drug 20 years ago and branded it "a mistake".

It comes after fellow Tory contender Rory Stewart apologised for smoking opium at a wedding in Iran.

'It was a mistake', Michael Gove told the Daily Mail.

Mr Gove told the Daily Mail: "I took drugs on several occasions at social events more than 20 years ago.

"At the time I was a young journalist. It was a mistake. I look back and think 'I wish I hadn't done that'."

He added: "It was 20 years ago and yes, it was a mistake. But I don't believe that past mistakes disqualify you."

Speaking to Sky News last week, International Development Secretary Mr Stewart said: "I think it was a very stupid mistake and I did it 15 years ago, and I actually went on in Iran to see the damage that opium was doing to communities."

He added: "I've seen it as a prisons minister. It was something that was very wrong, I made a stupid mistake.

"I was at a wedding in a large community meeting and somebody passed this pipe around the room and I smoked it - I shouldn't have done, I was wrong."