The government has denied that ministers are considering upgrading the classification of cannabis from Class B to Class A.
After the Sunday Times had claimed over the weekend that Home Secretary Suella Braverman was looking at upgrading cannabis to the highest UK drug classification, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson has said there are “no plans” to do so, reports The Manc.
It comes after Ms Braverman reportedly became “alarmed” at evidence that linked the drug to mental and physical health issues.
The government’s priority instead is said to be to “crack down on illegal drugs and the crime they drive”.
Despite reports that Braverman would be in support of the move, the Number 10 spokesperson said: “We’ve launched a drug strategy backed by record investment to deliver a whole-system approach to tackling supply and demand.”
Reports that the government was considering drug classification adjustments comes after a group of police and crime commissioners called for cannabis to be reclassified to a Class A drug at the Conservative Party conference last week.
Braverman was said to be considering upgrading cannabis over concerns it had become a “gateway” drug for more harmful substances, according to the Sunday Times.
Image: Unsplash
The paper also quoted a source close to Braverman saying that she was strongly opposed to calls to decriminalise cannabis, as she believed this would send a “cultural” and “political” signal that using the drug was “acceptable behaviour”.
Any move to upgrade cannabis would have surely been met with fierce resistance from cannabis legalisation campaigners nationwide – who argue that the UK’s long-standing approach to illegal drugs has failed and have already dismissed the idea as “crazy” and “dangerous”.
Campaigners want that ministers to shift towards decriminalisation and a regulated market.
If cannabis was to be upgraded to Class A, this would put it in the same category as heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, and would mean tougher penalties would be enforced for possession.
It would also mean the potential for life sentences for suppliers and producers.
Reclassifying cannabis from Class B to Class A would raise the maximum penalty for possession from five to seven years in prison, and from 14 years to a life sentence for supply and production.
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations.
"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.
"The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
Clementine Hall
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The Hoot -
12th October 2022 
