Former Conservative MP Crispin Blunt has been charged with four drugs offences, prosecutors have said.
The 65-year-old ex-justice minister, who represented Reigate, in Surrey, for more than 25 years, is accused of one count of possessing a class A drug and three of possessing a class B drug.
The charges were brought after police searches of his home in Horley as part of a separate investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
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He is due to appear in court later this month.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “We have decided to charge Crispin Blunt, 65, with four drugs offences – one count of possessing a controlled drug of Class A and three counts of possessing a controlled drug of Class B.
“The charges follow police attendance at Mr Blunt’s home address in Horley on October 25 2023, which was in relation to a separate matter.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with Surrey Police as they have carried out their investigation.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Mr Blunt will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 25.
The class A drug is alleged to be methamphetamine, and the class B drugs are alleged to be GBL, cannabis and amphetamine.
Mr Blunt was the MP for Reigate from 1997 until the 2024 general election.
While Labour in power he served as his party’s spokesperson for Northern Ireland, shadow trade minister, opposition whip and shadow minister for national security.
From 2010 to 2012, he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary for prisons and youth justice under the then prime minister David Cameron. He also served as chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 2015 to 2017.
He is also uncle to the Hollywood actress Emily Blunt.
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