A little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night.Well, I suppose it's not really illegal if it's only a little bit

Cleverly's joke' about wife hours after announcing new spiking law

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON

HOME Secretary James Cleverly joked about giving his wife a date-rape drug, just hours after announcing a crackdown on the growing epidemic of drinks spiking.

The top Tory told female guests at a No10 reception that "a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night" was "not really illegal if it's only a little bit".

Mr Cleverly also laughed that the secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there."

He said he realised he sounded like he was promoting "spiking". His spokesman yesterday brushed aside his comments as "an ironic joke" But Mr Cleverly's disgusting jibe came on the same day he vowed to strengthen the law to give spiking victims the confidence to come forward.

Now angry campaigners - battling a crime they described as an epidemic in a parliamentary inquiry last year - are calling on Rishi Sunak to investigate his Cabinet minister's behaviour.