London - It Was the "Justice" Minister's Son Who Sold the Hash to the Reporter!

LONDON
Friday, January 2, 1998

English law bars the identification of anyone under 18 facing court charges, so there was wide spread speculation about the identity of the Cabinet Member whose son who sold the hash to a London reporter on December 24. Of course, his identity quickly became Britain's worst-kept political secret. It was the son of the Home Secretary (Justice Minister) Jack Straw, who has refused even to consider changing the demonstrably ineffective cannabis laws and often has said that parents need to take greater responsibility for their children's behavior. Justice Roger Toulson ruled Straw's identity could be released hours after Straw was identified by newspapers in Scotland, which has a separate legal system.

``My son went voluntarily with me to the police. He did not and should not expect any favors from the legal process,'' Home Secretary Jack Straw said, after a judge lifted an order barring English newspapers from identifying the suspect, 17-year-old William Straw.

``He will accept and suffer any sanctions which arise, though of course like any parents we stand by him,'' said Straw, who serves a role similar to that of the U.S. attorney general. The reporter was charged by police with possession of hashish. No dates have been set for any court hearings.

``Of course I was embarrassed by this. I think any parent would be embarrassed.... But it doesn't change my attitude,'' Straw told a news conference. Straw said he had no intention of resigning, and Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said Straw had Blair's full support.