David Cameron has admitted to getting “off his head” on cannabis after smoking the drug while studying at Eton College.
The former prime minister had previously refused to acknowledge allegations that he had dabbled in drug use during his days at the elite private school which has produced 20 of the nation’s leaders – arguing that people are entitled to a private life before entering politics.
However, speaking to The Times, he has now admitted to being “off his head” after smoking cannabis at the college for 13 to 18 year olds.
He added that he smoked the drug again later in life with his wife Samantha, who he met on a family holiday at age 25 when he worked for the Conservative Party.
Mr Cameron is the latest in a string of top-flight conservative figures to have admitted engaging with drugs.
In June Michael Gove admitted to taking cocaine on “several occasions” – a revelation that dogged his campaign to move into Number 10.
But his admission spurred others in the leadership race also to come clean on their history of drug use.
Rory Stewart admitted to having smoked opium at a wedding in Afghanistan, while Andrea Leadsom said she had smoked cannabis at university.
Jeremy Hunt said he may have had a Lassi containing the same drug while backpacking in India.
Boris Johnson meanwhile chose to deflect questions over drug use during his leadership run, after admitting to trying cocaine and cannabis in a 2007 interview in GQ.
