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Drugs policy report sparks coalition row

A row has erupted at the top of the coalition after a Home Office report on drug abuse re-opened differences between Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the survey - which found the "toughness" of a country's drug enforcement policy did not affect the level of substance abuse - showed the "war on drugs" was failing.

The dispute, which his been festering for months, broke out after the Home Office finally agreed to release the report - which the Lib Dems had originally commissioned - comparing drugs policies in different countries.

Appearing on his weekly LBC radio phone-in, Mr Clegg complained that the Conservatives had tried to block its release.

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'Many Tories MPs in favour of drugs policy reform'

Many Tory MPs are in favour of drugs policy reform, the Commons has heard.

Poole MP Robert Syms said: "Contrary to press reports, there are many of us on the Conservative benches that believe in evidence-based reform to have a more effective policy in dealing with the scourge of drugs."

Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park, added: "I understand that 20% of people who have taken heroin for the first time say they got it for the first time in jail.

"If we can't control it in jail, how on earth are we supposed to control it on our streets?"

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