The British Home Secretary is facing criticism for allegedly making a joke about a date rape drug.
Image Credit-telegraph.co.uk
British Home Secretary James Cleverly received backlash on Sunday for making a joke about date rape just hours after announcing plans to address what he termed a “perverse” offense.
The official responsible for national security and law enforcement in England and Wales is under pressure to resign. This follows reports of him making a joke about drugging his wife during an event at the prime minister’s residence.
At a gathering on December 18, he reportedly mentioned that the key to a lasting marriage is having a wife who is “always mildly sedated so she can never realize there are better men out there,” as reported by the Sunday Mirror newspaper.
Cleverly made a concerning comment, suggesting that putting a small amount of the drug Rohypnol, often linked to date rape, in his wife’s drink every night might not be a serious issue because it’s only a small quantity.
The substance, commonly referred to as a “roofie” when discreetly added to someone’s drink, induces drowsiness and may cause unconsciousness and memory loss.
Cleverly apologized through a spokesperson, acknowledging his earlier comment as an “ironic joke.” This came after he announced the government’s intention to update laws, emphasizing the illegality of spiking drinks. He described the act as a “perverse” crime.
The statements were uttered during a relaxed gathering at 10 Downing Street, where political journalists, aides, ministers, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were present.Although conversations at such gatherings are typically kept private, the Sunday Mirror opted to report on Cleverly’s comments because of his significant role and the nature of the discussion.
In what was considered a private conversation, James, the home secretary responsible for addressing spiking, made what appeared to be an ironic joke. His spokesperson mentioned that he has apologized for the remark.
Jemima Olchawski, the chief executive of the women’s rights group, the Fawcett Society, expressed strong disapproval, deeming the remarks “sickening” and urging Cleverly to resign.
According to Olchawski, “How can we trust him to address violence against women seriously? It’s disturbing that the senior minister responsible for women’s safety finds joking about drugging women acceptable.”
Cleverly, aged 54, who met his wife in college and has two children, has expressed a personal commitment to addressing violence against women and girls.
Members of the opposition Labour Party criticized the “appalling” comments. Yvette Cooper, a Labour member of Parliament, expressed disbelief, stating, “It is truly unbelievable that the home secretary made such appalling jokes on the very same day the government announced new policy on spiking. Victims will understandably be questioning if they can trust him to take this vile crime seriously.”
The government is set to clarify that spiking drinks is a crime, though it won’t become a separate offense.
On average, the police in England and Wales receive around 561 reports of drink spiking each month. Most of these reports come from women who have experienced incidents at bars and nightclubs, according to a report from the Home Office.
