Labour Launches Scathing Attack on Green Party Drug Policy
Labour has launched an extraordinary and furious attack on the Green Party, claiming their proposals for drug law reform would effectively turn the nation's playgrounds into crack dens. The incendiary remarks came from Policing Minister Sarah Jones, who branded Green Party leader Zack Polanski as reckless over his previous comments suggesting support for legalising class A drugs.
Green Leader Accuses Labour of 'Desperate Lies'
Mr Polanski hit back forcefully, accusing Labour of peddling what he called "desperate lies" from a party that knows it's about to lose the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election. He doubled down on calls for a new approach to tackling addiction and crime, arguing the current system has failed spectacularly.
"These are desperate lies from a desperate Labour Party," Mr Polanski stated. "Greens have a specific manifesto commitment to 'preventing children accessing drugs'. In contrast, right now, while government refuses to legally control and regulate drugs, we have drug use and drug death increasing every year for the last 13 years, with more young people being exploited through the drug trade."
Labour Points to Unearthed Green Policy Document
Labour pointed to an unearthed 2019 Green Party policy paper that suggested recreational drugs could "enhance human relationships and human creativity." Ms Jones seized on this document to launch her blistering critique of Green proposals.
"These reckless plans would shatter communities across the country and tear apart the very fabric of Britain," Ms Jones warned. "Polanski would unleash a drugs epidemic across Britain that would see our parks and playgrounds turned into crack dens. Let's be clear about what that would mean: lives shattered, anti-social behaviour through the roof, and public drug use running rife."
Green Party's Manifesto Commitment
The Green Party's 2024 manifesto, which remains current party policy, calls for establishing a National Commission to develop an evidence-based approach to reforming what they describe as "counterproductive drug laws." The document argues that neither prohibition nor policing of low-level drug offences have reduced use or impacted criminal market profits.
"Elected Greens will therefore push to decriminalise personal possession of drugs," the manifesto states, "diverting people from the criminal justice system towards support with addiction, housing and employment, from health workers focused on drug harm reduction."
By-Election Candidate Supports Decriminalisation Discussion
Hannah Spencer, the Green candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, this week told the BBC: "I think decriminalising is a conversation we need to have." When asked specifically about plans to legalise drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, she emphasised the need for dialogue on the issue.
Labour's Alternative Approach
Labour argues that taking a hard line on drug crime while investing billions in prevention and treatment represents the key to keeping dangerous substances off British streets. The party pointed to places where drugs have been decriminalised, such as the US state of Oregon, which saw a significant rise in opioid deaths following policy changes.
Labour contends that Green proposals risk making drug taking "a respectable and normalised recreational activity" rather than addressing the serious harms associated with substance abuse. The Government highlighted record drug seizures, including almost 150 tonnes of banned substances seized by Border Force in the year to March 2025, as evidence of their effective approach.
Fundamental Policy Divide
The row exposes a fundamental divide in British politics regarding drug policy. While Labour advocates for strengthened enforcement combined with treatment investment, the Greens push for decriminalisation and harm reduction through regulated markets. Mr Polanski emphasised that "drug dealers don't ask for IDs" under the current system, arguing that regulation would better protect young people.
"If Labour cared about people as much as they did smearing political opponents," Mr Polanski concluded, "they would back Greens' call for a national commission on drugs to see how we can reduce the harm drugs cause." The bitter exchange comes as both parties prepare for the crucial Gorton and Denton by-election, with drug policy emerging as a central battleground issue.
