In a break with convention, Conservative MP James Cleverly has come clean about having smoked cannabis at university, watching online porn and harbouring leadership ambitions.
In a quick-fire interview for John Pienaar’s Backbencher’s Questions on Radio 5 Live, the MP for Braintree, simply answered “yes” when asked whether he had watched online porn or ever done drugs. “I had a little dabble with marijuana at university,” he said. Asked if he inhaled, he said: “Of course, that’s the point, to paraphrase Obama. I don’t recommend it, it’s a waste of money, waste of time and just not very good for your future prospects.”
The MP was asked who should become Tory party leader when Cameron stands down. “Me,” he said. “I’m going to do the Nicky Morgan defence on this one. I think it’s called the Nicky Morgan defence.”
About to be grilled by @JPonpolitics on @Radio5live Am I about to kiss my political career goodbye?
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 1, 2015
In the three-minute interview, Cleverly said he did not believe in God and that he would vote to leave the EU if the referendum was tomorrow.
Asked to play the game in which the participant is forced to say whether they would rather snog, marry or avoid someone, Cleverly said he would choose to snog the home secretary Theresa May and the singer Rita Ora, but would marry former Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and avoid the journalist and Cameron-biographer Isabel Oakeshott.
Shorter headline for you. "James Cleverly was once 20". @emma_hobleyNQE
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 1, 2015
Cleverly was asked about the last time he vomited after drinking alcohol. “Now that was a very, very long time ago actually,” he said. “I think it was either at university ... no, it was in the army.”
