Former Conservative MP and justice minister, Crispin Blunt, has been fined £1,200 after pleading guilty to possessing illegal drugs, including cannabis and crystal meth.
The 65-year-old admitted to four charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, following a police raid on his Surrey home in October 2023. Officers found substances including cannabis, methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth), and the chemical sedative GBL.
While delivering judgment, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram reminded Blunt of his past role in public service, noting that he had once been seen as a role model. He added that the offences risked undermining public confidence in lawmakers.
Blunt pleaded guilty to one count of possessing Class A drugs and three counts involving Class B substances. During a lengthy statement in court, he claimed he had been targeted in a blackmail and extortion scheme by a drug dealer. He also argued that laws criminalising drug possession should not exist.
He further disclosed that his personal experiences, including hosting drug-fuelled gatherings at his home, had shaped his views on drug policy reform.
The case emerged after police discovered the drugs while investigating him over a rape allegation. However, Surrey Police later dropped the allegation, citing insufficient evidence after an 18-month probe.
Blunt previously served in David Cameron’s government as a minister for prisons and youth justice between 2010 and 2012. He later chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee before losing the Conservative whip in October 2023. He continued as an independent MP until stepping down ahead of the 2024 general election.
