Michael Gove has been accused of "rank hypocrisy" after the former justice secretary admitted to taking cocaine on "several occasions".

The Conservative leadership hopeful said he "deeply regrets" taking the drug when he worked as a journalist 20 years ago.

After Mr Gove's admission, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas criticised him for the policies he support as justice secretary.

She wrote on Twitter: "Rank hypocrisy of minister admitting to 'mistakes' on drug use while backing policies that perpetuate harm.

"From locking up disproportionate number of young, black men, to treating drug misuse as crime rather than health issue, prohibition fails us all."


Image: Caroline Lucas has accused Michael Gove of 'rank hypocrisy'

Mr Gove, now the environment secretary, told the Daily Mail it was a "mistake" when he used the drug two decades ago.

He said: "At the time I was a young journalist... I look back and think 'I wish I hadn't done that'."

Mr Gove added that he doesn't feel his past mistakes should be held against him.

His admission comes after Justice Secretary David Gauke told Sky News that wealthy drug users are responsible for a rise in stabbings in UK cities.

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He told Sophy Ridge: "People who do that have to recognise that they are fuelling the industry that is resulting in the knife crimes.

"There is a responsibility for middle-class people who take cocaine at a dinner party, that when they see a story of a 15-year-old being stabbed in Hackney, they should feel a degree of guilt and responsibility."

Image: The former justice secretary is vying to become the next prime minister

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told reporters he is "unconcerned about Michael Gove's past life", and said: "Well, he has decided to tell us what his past was like, that's his business."

Asked if he believed mistakes in the past should disqualify potential leadership candidates, he added: "No, I think people should tell us what they have done and move on in life.

"But I'm unconcerned about Michael Gove's past life or behaviour to be quite honest."

When asked if he had taken drugs in the past, Mr Corbyn said: "No, I've led a very normal life in many ways."

Image: Jeremy Corbyn says he has never taken drugs

Mr Gove is battling the likes of Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart to become prime minister.

The leadership contender admitted to taking drugs ahead of the release of a book about him by journalist Owen Bennett.

Michael Gove: A Man In A Hurry claims he confessed to cocaine use when he was being "put through his paces" by advisers in the 2016 leadership contest.

Mr Raab, who has admitted taking cannabis as a student, has defended Mr Gove's actions saying he "admires his honesty".

He told the BBC's Today programme: "I think Michael has set out that he made a mistake.

"It was a long time ago, people will judge it as it is but I do believe in a second chance society."

Mr Raab added: "I certainly don't feel it's barred him from this race in any way.

"I rather admire his honesty."

Image: Dominic Raab has said he 'admires Michael Gove's honesty'

Mr Gove's admission comes after Mr Stewart admitted to smoking opium in Iran.

The international development secretary told Sky News: "I think it was a very stupid mistake and I did it 15 years ago, and I actually wnet on in Iran to see the damage that opium was doing to communities.

"I've seen it as a prisons minister.

"It was something that was very wrong, I made a stupid mistake.

"I was at a wedding in a large community meeting and somebody passed this pipe around the room and I smoked it - I shouldn't have done, I was wrong."

Fellow Conservative contender Jeremy Hunt told The Times that he might have consumed a cannabis lassi drink when he was younger.

He said: "I think I had a cannabis lassi when I went backpacking through India."