Pubdate: Sun, 28 Dec 1997
Source: Sunday Times 
Authors: Jonathon CarrBrown and Andrew Grice 
Contact: FATHER OF LEAH BETTS BEGS DRUG CASE MINISTER TO SPEAK OUT

THE father of Leah Betts, the ecstasy victim, has made a personal plea to
the cabinet minister whose son has been arrested on suspicion of supplying
cannabis to identify himself as an example to other parents. 

Paul Betts, whose daughter died after taking ecstasy in an Essex night club
two years ago, last night added his voice to a growing chorus of senior
MPs, antidrug activists and teachers urging the minister to tell his
family's story to the nation. 

"This could really wake parents up," said Betts. "People might begin to
realise that if a cabinet minister's son can be drawn in there is no reason
why their own children might not be involved with drugs." 

Betts's call coincided with an admission by Charles Clarke, elected as MP
for Norwich South in May, that he had smoked cannabis during his teens. He
is the first Labour MP to have admitted smoking cannabis, although he now
opposes its legalisation. 

This weekend aides to the minister, who has been publicly backed by Tony
Blair, criticised suggestions that he was hiding. "He has taken legal
advice and he is constrained by the law," said one. "He would be in breach
of it if he named himself." Friends said the minister would talk about the
case if he were allowed to. "It is not his rights that are being protected
but his son's," said one. 

The Mirror alleged on Tuesday that the minister's son had sold its reporter
two grams of cannabis resin for £10 outside a London pub. The day before
the article appeared the 17yearold walked into a London police station
with his father and made a full statement, naming his supplier. 

He was immediately arrested and placed on police bail. Last night a police
spokesman said inquiries were continuing and no charges had been made. 

The boy's arrest meant that as an under18 he could not be identified; nor,
therefore, could his father. However, many campaigners believe a unique
opportunity to highlight Britain's drug problem could be lost if the
minister's anonymity is preserved. 

David Hart, president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said
the initial anguish might be balanced by the positive effects: "I agonise
for the whole family but I think there is a lot to be said for them coming
out. The minister would get a lot of sympathy if he took a public stance." 

Clive Soley, Labour MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, and Ronnie
Campbell, MP for Blyth Valley, both agreed that the minister had nothing to
be ashamed of. Soley said he appreciated the legal problem but urged the
minister to think again. 

In August Brian Iddon, Labour MP for Bolton South East, joined Liberal
Democrat MPs in calling for a royal commission on drugs following the
drugsrelated death of a boy aged five in his constituency. Campaigners for
drug legalisation also want the minister to reveal his identity and face up
to the scale of drug use in Britain. Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport
West, who supports the decriminalisation of cannabis, called on the
minister to break his silence. 

Last night Lord Wakeham, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission,
warned against naming either the minister or his son. He said the newspaper
industry's code of practice made it "quite clear" that before publication
of material about the private life of a child, there had to be
justification other than the fame, notoriety or position of the parents.