Labour conference drugs claim

Cocaine has allegedly been taken at the Labour Party conference.

A newspaper investigation reportedly discovered traces of the class A drug in toilets used at the conference.

London's Evening Standard said swabs from five lavatories near parties at the five-star Grand and Metropole hotels, had tested positive.

Asked about the report, a Labour spokesman said: "We would always encourage a newspaper to pass such evidence to the police so that they can judge the right course of action."

Sussex Police spokesman said they were conducting a "counter-terrorism operation" and not "routine drugs searches".

One swab was taken on Tuesday night from lavatories opposite the Metropole Hotel's Viscount Suite, where MPs and activists from the North East were celebrating with Tony and Cherie Blair.

The paper quoted one un-named partygoer as saying: "Cocaine is the drug of choice for many people in the Westminster world of politics, PR and media and among the metropolitan elite.
"It's a very Islington and Notting Hill thing. During Labour conference Brighton becomes Islington and W11-on-sea and people take their pleasures with them.

"What's amazing is that people are prepared to take the drug inside one of the most heavily policed areas of Britain."