The United Kingdom’s (UK) Secretary of State, James Cleverly is facing serious calls to resign his appointment after he joked about giving his wife date-rape drug.
How the ‘Joke’ Turned Into Calls For Resignation
Cleverly’S comments were made at a reception in Downing Street where he had claimed to have joked about spiking his wife’s drink with a date rape drug.
According to a report on British tabloid, The Independent, the comments were made during “what was always understood as a private conversation.”
A spokesperson said: “James, the home secretary tackling spiking, made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke – for which he apologises.”
Quote from James Cleverly’s Joke About His Wife
At the event on Downing Street, Cleverly was quoted by Sunday Mirror to have said:
“a little bit of Rohypool in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit.”
According to the Secretary of State, the secret to a long marriage was ensuring that your spouse was “always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there.”
Who Is Calling For James Cleverly’S Resignation?
Jemima Olchawski, the Chief Executive of Fawcett Society, a women’s rights group described the comments as “sickening” hence called for Cleverly’s resignation.
“it’s sickening that the senior minister in charge of keeping women safe thinks that something as terrifying as drugging women is a laughing matter.”
How can we trust him to seriously address violence against women and girls? We deserve better than this from our lawmakers and Cleverly should resign”
Also, Alex David-Jones, a senior Labour figure and shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding said:
“‘It was a joke’ is the tired excuse in the book and no one is buying it. If the home secretary is serious about tackling spiking and violence against women and girls, then that requires a full cultural change. The ‘banter’ needs to stop and it has to start at the top.”
The support was also supported by quite a number too which included Charity Women’s Aid; Colin Mackie, the chair of Spike Aware UK;Yvette Cooper amongst others.
The Home Office Stance on Spiking
Earlier on Friday, December 23rd, the Home Office has announced plans to crack down spiking.
Rohypnol and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are the drugs frequently used to spike victims and leave them feeling physically weak, out of control, confused or csn cause them to pass out.
Why Cleverly’s ‘Joke’ Is ‘Costly’ to Him
The Secretary had identified with the violence against women and girls as a “personal priority” and even labelled spiking to be a “perverse” crime.
Though discussions made at Downing Street receptions are said to be private, Cleverly, according to his associates recognised that they were inappropriate.
The Sunday Mirror however decided to break the conversation to the public because of Cleverly’s position on the subject matter.
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