![BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS](https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1688797028/articles/BEjarNqH71688804042644/BLOOD-ON-THEIR-HANDS.jpg)
RISHI Sunak was slammed last night as he rejected a Scottish Government bid to save lives by decriminalising personal drug use.
Hunza Yousaf's government yesterday announced their call for a major reform to outdated drug laws treating overdose deaths as a health emergency rather than a crime issue.
They say the move is vital to tackle Scotland's drug death crisis - the worst in Europe.
But within just 10 minutes Rishi Sunak had ruled out the measure, insisting "no change" to the current failing drug laws.
Last night drugs campaigner Peter Krykant hit out, saying: "This attitude by the Tories shows that they don't give a damn about people dying from drugs.
"They are wilfully telling people who have battled drugs issues - like myself that they don't care. In my mind, they have blood on their hands.
"Deaths are rising fast in the rest of the UK and it's beyond belief that UK parties including Labour - are not backing policies that are glaringly obvious and backed by international evidence.
The storm erupted after Scotland's drugs minister Elena Whitham unveiled the Scottish Government's proposals to reform Britain's punitive drugs policy.
Whitham claimed an international coalition of experts and progressive governments could convince the UK Government to finally U-turn on the failed war on drugs.
Announcing a policy paper that formally sets down the Scottish Government's support for the decriminalisation of drugs, Whitham pledged to bring a new intensity to the debate. At the event in Edinburgh yesterday, Whitham was flanked by Helen Clark and Ruth Dreifuss former premiers of New Zealand and Switzerland - who are now leading drug reformers.
Whitham hailed the new paper as a "momentous step forward".
This story is from the July 08, 2023 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 08, 2023 edition of Daily Record.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![THE SIDE OF THE ANGEL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/0NIwzLlYr1725514220125/THE-SIDE-OF-THE-ANGEL.jpg)
THE SIDE OF THE ANGEL
Gomes happy to commit to England ahead of Portuguese
![The gaffer phoned me about what we could have done better and within the first minute or two I knew we were on same page](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/FFqJvQcAi1725514032893/THE-GAFFER-PHONED-ME-ABOUT-WHAT-WE-COULD-HAVE-DONE-BETTER-AND-WITHIN-THE-FIRST-MINUTE-OR-TWO-I-KNEW-WE-WERE-ON-SAME-PAGE.jpg)
The gaffer phoned me about what we could have done better and within the first minute or two I knew we were on same page
Robbo insists Clarke's Scots are ready for battle again after Euros post-mortem
![EX-PREZ THREAT TO RELEASE NAMES: TRUMP LEAVES EPSTEIN PALS IN A 'BLIND PANIC'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/AguQEArV_1725513764703/EXPREZ-THREAT-TO-RELEASE-NAMES-TRUMP-LEAVES-EPSTEIN-PALS-IN-A-BLIND-PANIC.jpg)
EX-PREZ THREAT TO RELEASE NAMES: TRUMP LEAVES EPSTEIN PALS IN A 'BLIND PANIC'
Don hints he may publish list of men who visited dead perv's isle
![Doddie left £1.6m to his family](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/0XnqCAhbX1725513641032/DODDIE-LEFT-16M-TO-HIS-FAMILY.jpg)
Doddie left £1.6m to his family
Tragic sportsman Weir leaves behind fortune
![YES, I DEFINITELY MAYBE WAS IN TICKET QUEUE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/I8pYj4NVy1725513500849/YES-I-DEFINITELY-MAYBE-WAS-IN-TICKET-QUEUE.jpg)
YES, I DEFINITELY MAYBE WAS IN TICKET QUEUE
Now SNP's Gray admits trying to buy briefs while chairing Alzheimer's chat
![Every time I get on that bike I think of Isla's pain](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/Z6ZBUwQ0l1725513350034/EVERY-TIME-I-GET-ON-THAT-BIKE-I-THINK-OF-ISLAS-PAIN.jpg)
Every time I get on that bike I think of Isla's pain
Graeme ready for fundraiser but legend admits: I despise cycling
![Brian: I've had a stroke](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/n9hBLT-dK1725513245459/BRIAN-IVE-HAD-A-STROKE.jpg)
Brian: I've had a stroke
Queen icon lost control of arm but is doing OK
![It's not our Masterplan](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/pCneG6hbV1725513094396/ITS-NOT-OUR-MASTERPLAN.jpg)
It's not our Masterplan
Band add dates after pricing fury, saying they left it to management & promoters (awks.. as Liam's manager is his girlfriend)
![COPS FEAR MUM 'MAY HAVE COME TO HARM': NEW SEARCH FOR MISSING KHASHA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/FrsneSuka1725512962558/COPS-FEAR-MUM-MAY-HAVE-COME-TO-HARM-NEW-SEARCH-FOR-MISSING-KHASHA.jpg)
COPS FEAR MUM 'MAY HAVE COME TO HARM': NEW SEARCH FOR MISSING KHASHA
Detectives following definite line of inquiry 10 months after disappearance
![We lost loved ones in horrific way.. to greed, corruption, incompetence and négligence](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21048/1822011/N-34EFRW11725512690206/WE-LOST-LOVED-ONES-IN-HORRIFIC-WAY-TO-GREED-CORRUPTION-INCOMPETENCE-AND-NGLIGENCE.jpg)
We lost loved ones in horrific way.. to greed, corruption, incompetence and négligence
Anger at failings that led to 'avoidable' deaths. Charges on 2017 blaze may not come until 2027