UK's Home Secretary expresses regret for making inappropriate joke about using date-rape drug on wife
UK Home Secretary James Cleverly offers a sincere apology for making a tasteless joke about spiking his wife's drink with a date-rape drug His remorseful statement addresses the inappropriate nature of his comment
Home Secretary James Cleverly issued an apology for making a joke about spiking his wife's drink with a date-rape drug. The joke was reportedly made to female guests at a Downing Street reception and was reported in the Sunday Mirror tabloid.
The paper reported that Cleverly, a senior minister in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, stated that adding "a small amount of Rohypnol to her drink every night" was "not technically illegal if it's only a small amount." He also purportedly suggested that the key to a lasting marriage was to have a spouse who is "always slightly sedated so she never realizes there are better men out there."
According to the Mirror, Cleverly vowed to enhance British laws concerning the increasing issue of drink spiking in the UK on the same day that his comments were made. A spokesperson for Cleverly informed PA Media that the Home Secretary addressing spiking made an ironic joke in what was meant to be a private conversation with James, for which he apologizes.
Womens rights groups have been stirred into controversy by the comments, leading to calls for his resignation. Yvette Cooper, an opposition Labour politician and Shadow Home Secretary, wrote on X: "Spiking is a serious and devastating crime."
"The Home Secretary's jokes about violence against women and girls are truly unbelievable. How can victims trust him to take this vile crime seriously? The Fawcett Society, a women's advocacy group, described the comments as sickening."
Women's safety is a top concern. Banter is no excuse for allowing misogyny to flourish. Can we really trust him to effectively address violence against women and girls? We deserve more from our lawmakers and Cleverly should step down," expressed Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society.
According to Women's Aid, a UK organization dedicated to combating domestic violence, "We depend on political leaders to take decisive action to eradicate violence against women and girls, along with the misogyny that fuels it."
Survivors of domestic abuse must see government officials taking the issue seriously and not minimizing the harsh reality that so many women experience.Cleverly recently had to apologize again for using "inappropriate language" when referring to Labour MP Alex Cunningham, with allegations that he used a derogatory swearword to describe his constituency of Stockton North, which he denies.
Britain has been facing a rising epidemic of spiking incidents. Between May 2022 and April 2023, there were 6,732 reports of spiking in England and Wales, PA Media reported.
