Sunak says 'matter closed' over James Cleverley date rape joke

Home Secretary James Cleverley with his wife Suzanne Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Rishi Sunak will not punish James Cleverley over joke that he spiked his wife's drink with a date rape drug has been announced by No 10.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister «considers the matter closed» after the Home Secretary apologized for private comments.

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It comes after the Fawcett Society, a women's rights charity, said Mr Cleverley should resign over the «disgusting» comments.

Home Secretary joked at Downing reception Street, where it was clear he was speaking off the record.

As reported by the Sunday Mirror, he told guests that «a little Rohypnol in her drink every night» «isn't really illegal unless a little bit.”

He added that the secret to a long marriage is to keep your wife “always lightly sedated so that she can never understand that there are better men.”

p>The comments came on the same day the Home Office announced new plans to crack down on overdosing.

When asked about them, a spokesman for Mr Sunak said: “The Home Secretary is right to apologize for which I understand were comments made during a private conversation.»

“The Prime Minister considers the matter closed and he and the Home Secretary are focused on the actions the Government is taking to tackle emissions and protect women and girls.”

The Home Secretary has already apologized for the comments. which his spokesman said were part of a «private conversation» and «clearly intended as an ironic joke».

Off the record

Discussions at Downing Street receptions are off the record, but the Sunday Mirror has decided to break it agreement because of its position and the subject of discussion.

The Labor Party criticized the remarks, with Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, calling them «appalling» and «truly incredible.»

Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said the comments should not be simply dismissed him as male “banter.”

She added: “How can we trust him to seriously address violence against women and girls? We deserve better from our lawmakers and he should resign.”

Cleverley, 54, met his wife Susie at university and the couple have two children. He was appointed home secretary last month, having previously served as foreign secretary.

Susie praised her husband's dedication in an interview with The Telegraph in October this year, speaking about her battle with breast cancer.

< p>She said: “James was great. He is always there for me whenever he can be.

“When he was appointed Foreign Secretary last September, I had already had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and the horrors of all the side effects. consequences. So I was very lucky.”