More Billy Whizz than Jack the Lad

The Christmas period should have been a particularly happy time for William Straw. He had just been accepted for a place at Oxford University - the letter arrived on Christmas Eve - to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics providing he gets the right grades in his A levels later this year.

Instead this news was completely overshadowed by events in a London pub, when he is alleged to have sold to pounds 10 worth of cannabis to an uncover reporter for the Mirror, a chain reaction which led to yesterday's events.

Whatever the truth of those claims - and a decision will be made next week on whether he faces any prosecution - those who know him describe William as a "decent, amusing young man". Looking like a trendier version of his father, the 17-year-old has a droll sense of humour, strong views of his own and, until this affair, had handled the difficulty of being a "famous son" very well. He has been interested in a career in journalism - though perhaps less so just at the moment.

His family nickname "Whizz", comes not, as has been suggested for drug- related reasons, but means "whizz-kid" given to him because he was sufficiently able at school to move up a a year. Unlike other new Labour children, he has been educated at a comprehensive - Pimlico school in south-west London, where he is studying for his A-levels. His father is chair of the board of governors.

His mother is Alice Perkins, a deputy director of public spending at the Treasury, and he has one sister. The family spent Christmas at their Oxfordshire cottage.