Tories post drugs leaflet through Darlington doors in attack on Greens

The leaflet titled ‘The Home of Addiction’ criticises the Green Party’s stance on legalising Class A drugs and includes several pictures of substances available at various prices above the heading ‘Bargain Buzz’.

It reads: ‘Darlington’s Green Party say they want to make Class A drugs easily accessible as alcohol and cigarettes. 

‘Don’t risk it – don’t vote Green’.

The leaflet titled ‘The Home of Addiction’ criticises the Green Party’s stance on legalising Class A drugs. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Local Conservatives confirmed they were behind the leaflets and said they were posted through letterboxes amid concerns from residents about the party’s “deeply unpalatable” policies. 

But Matthew Snedker, local leader of the Greens, has hit back and accused the council’s opposing party of producing a “shamelessly inaccurate attack leaflet on the rapidly growing Green Party”.

The member for College ward, who was first elected in 2019, highlighted concerning national figures regarding drug deaths.

He said: “The leaflet deliberately lies about the Green Party’s policy to get a grip on drug control measures that directly confront the many harms that the current system fails to deal with. 

“In a country that has seen drug deaths rise each year for 13 years and with many communities suffering from the crime and disorder caused by untreated addiction, we need a sensible debate about how we take drugs out of the hands of criminal gangs and get drug users into recovery. 

“The Green Party policy takes a public health approach to drug dependence to tackle the wider causes of problematic drug use.”

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, previously said he wants to legalise all drugs, calling for an approach “led by public health experts, not politicians”. 

But local Conservatives dispute the Greens’ view. 

Councillor Scott Durham, member for Brinkburn and Faverdale, said: “Increasingly, residents are recognising that these are the same kinds of policies seen in large American cities that have struggled with rising drug use, drug-related deaths, and homelessness.”

The leaflet also criticised the Green Party’s decision to reject a recent Conservative and Reform plea for single-sex spaces across council buildings and services. 

Opposition councillors urged Darlington Borough Council to protect women and young girls from biological men accessing single sex spaces but accused the Greens of removing the protection, adding: “They called people who disagree with this Nazis.” 

Cllr Durham added: “Our leaflet reflects the fact that Green councillors supported an amendment that would have allowed access based on gender identity. 

“The council has since confirmed that this amendment was not lawful. It is entirely reasonable for us to highlight both how they voted and the council’s subsequent clarification.”

A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We understand discussions around single-sex spaces can be sensitive, and we are aware of some misconceptions circulating online. 

“To be clear, the council is not changing how single-sex spaces are currently managed – that use is determined by biological sex. Our priority is to act lawfully, responsibly and respectfully – ensuring safety, dignity and privacy for everyone.”