NORTH wiltshire MP James Gray and Tory party chairman, Devizes MP Michael Ancram both say they have never smoked cannabis.

Their declaration comes in the wake of a speech by Ann Widdecombe at the Conservative party conference when she proposed zero tolerance for the possession of cannabis, with £100 minimum fines.

Seven shadow cabinet colleagues subsequently admitted they had tried the drug.

Mr Ancram, however, who has a long-standing connection with the folk music scene, said he had never experimented with cannabis. "It is illegal and I believe it should remain illegal."

He said he had a university friend at university who had died of drug abuse. "He progressed from soft to hard drugs, at every stage saying he could handle it. He couldn't."

Mr Ancram supported Miss Widdecombe's call for a zero tolerance approach to the policing of drug-taking.

"She made it clear at the time the possession of cannabis was an offence akin to speeding in a car and should be dealt with in a similarly summary fashion."

Mr Gray said he considered any form of drug taking worrying and dangerous.

"I am opposed to any kind of experimentation with drugs.

"I include tobacco and underage drinking in that.

"It's important to get the message over to young people that drugs can damage your mental and physical health."