James Cleverly, the British Home Secretary responsible for national security and law enforcement in England and Wales, came under scrutiny on Sunday for making a joke about date rape just hours after announcing plans to combat what he termed a “perverse” offense.
During a reception at the prime minister’s residence on December 18, Cleverly reportedly joked to women guests about drugging his wife as the secret to a lasting marriage. He suggested that having a spouse “always mildly sedated so she can never realize there are better men out there” was the key, referencing the use of Rohypnol, the so-called date rape drug.
Cleverly later apologized through a spokesperson, referring to the comment as an “ironic joke,” following the announcement of the government’s intention to update legislation to explicitly classify drink spiking as illegal. Despite the private nature of such conversations, the Sunday Mirror decided to report the incident due to Cleverly’s position and the gravity of the subject matter.
Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the women’s rights group the Fawcett Society, condemned the remarks as “sickening” and called for Cleverly’s resignation, questioning his ability to address violence against women seriously. Senior members of the opposition Labour Party also criticized the “appalling” comments, expressing concern about the Home Secretary’s commitment to tackling such crimes.
While the government has pledged to clarify that drink spiking is a crime, it falls short of creating a specific offense. A Home Office report indicates that police in England and Wales receive an average of 561 reports of spiking per month, predominantly from women reporting incidents at bars and nightclubs.
