The home secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly, is under mounting pressure to resign following a controversial joke he made about spiking his wife’s drink with a date rape drug during a Downing Street reception. The incident occurred just hours after the Home Office unveiled plans to combat spiking, emphasising the placement of drugs into someone’s drink or body without their knowledge.
Cleverly issued an apology for his remarks, which were revealed by the Sunday Mirror, stating that “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” wasn’t “really illegal if it’s only a little bit.” He further joked that the key to a long marriage was having a spouse “always mildly sedated so she can never realize there are better men out there.”
Although conversations at Downing Street receptions are typically considered off the record, the Sunday Mirror justified breaking convention due to Cleverly’s position and the gravity of the subject matter.
A spokesperson for the home secretary defended Cleverly, stating, “In what was always understood as a private conversation, James, the home secretary, tackling spiking made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke, for which he apologises.”
Calls for Resignation Grow as James Cleverly Apologises for Date Rape Drug Joke
Despite the apology, calls for Cleverly’s resignation have intensified, overshadowing the government’s efforts to address spiking. Alex Davies-Jones, the UK shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, dismissed the excuse that it was a joke, emphasising the need for a cultural change in addressing spiking and violence against women.
Campaigners argue that Cleverly’s remarks contribute to a culture that normalises banter about date rape and coercive control. Women’s safety advocates insist that apologies are insufficient and demand Cleverly’s resignation to demonstrate a commitment to combating violence against women and girls.