A debate on drugs is my cup of tea, says Oasis star

Oasis star Noel Gallagher yesterday declared he was "glad to have started a debate" after politicians and anti-drugs campaigners united to condemn him for claiming that taking drugs was like having a cup of tea.

The star, who also claimed that there were cocaine and heroin addicts in Parliament, was denounced as "incredibly irresponsible" by the Home Office minister Tom Sackville and accused by the Tory MP Peter Bottomley of making the comments "to drum up publicity" for the band.

Gallagher sparked the "debate" when he spoke up in defence of ex-East 17 singer Brian Harvey in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live shortly after scooping an NME Brat Award on Monday night.

Harvey was sacked by his fellow band-members earlier this month, after making comments about drugs which led to radio stations banning his group and condemnation from the Prime Minister.

However, Gallagher claimed that taking drugs was "like getting up and having a cup of tea in the morning" and insisted: "There's people in the House of Parliament, man, who are bigger heroin addicts and cocaine addicts than anyone in this room right now. As soon as people realise that the majority in this country take drugs, then the better off we'll all be.

"It's not like a scandalous sensation, or anything like that. Not when you've got our Government selling arms to people who go out and kill probably relatives of somebody in this room - and then people go on about taking drugs."

Mr Sackville dismissed Gallagher's suggestion that there were MPs addicted to hard drugs, saying: "MPs have got lots of vices, but drugs are not among them."

But calls for him to be prosecuted or thrown out of the band appeared to be going unheeded yesterday. Gallagher said afterwards: "If by saying a few seemingly outrageous things has helped to instigate an open and honest debate about drug abuse in this country then I'm pleased."

Despite the popular mythology surrounding the group's drug use, Gallagher said he did not condone drug use, adding: "I just slam as hypocrites those politicians who simply condemn drug abuse as a criminal activity and think they're doing something positive." Jojo Moyes