Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Liz Truss residence houses traces of cocaine after parties: Guardian

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 17 Dec 2022 14:11
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

In an exclusive report by the Guardian, sources say that white powder residue was found after events held at Chevening and Downing Street.

  • x
  • Chevening House, the country estate in Kent where claims of suspected cocaine use have emerged (Photo: Tim Graham/Getty)
    Chevening House, the country estate in Kent where claims of suspected cocaine use have emerged. (Getty Images)

Traces of a suspected class A drug, according to the Guardian, were discovered at a government home following parties attended by Liz Truss' political allies.

The white powder was discovered at the Chevening estate last summer, according to sources, just days before Truss won the Tory leadership election and became Prime Minister.

A member of staff claimed they tested the powder using a swab which changes color when it comes into contact with cocaine, and it indicated the drug was present.

Cocaine possession is a criminal offense punishable by up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine, according to the report. The government launched a new crackdown in July on casual drug users, saying their passports could be confiscated.

According to The Guardian, separate sources have described similar deposits being discovered in the offices of No. 10 Downing Street following two lockdown parties held while Boris Johnson was Prime Minister.

Staff at Chevening claim to have discovered traces of white powder on a side table in a games room with a snooker table on two occasions, following nights when Truss was known to have entertained guests at the Kent country house, a retreat for foreign secretaries.

As reported by The Guardian, during her leadership campaign, Truss, then Foreign Secretary, hosted a gathering at the 17th-century Grade I-listed home on the weekend of August 19-21. Another gathering was held on the weekend of September 2-4. On both weekends, a diverse range of political allies was in attendance.

Grace-and-favor home

Chevening is a grace-and-favor 3,000-acre estate. The foreign secretary is traditionally granted use of the 115-room mansion, and its upkeep is funded by a trust established by an act of parliament.

According to an insider, cocaine was widely used throughout Whitehall and the parliamentary estate, and some of Truss' political allies used it. However, there is no evidence that Truss or Johnson used the drug or was aware that drugs were being used or were present. The Guardian has not been told who is to blame for the alleged white powder deposits.

Related News

Liz Truss denies crashing UK economy

Truss admits to 'mistakes', cites unpreparedness to 'onslaught'

Sources who worked in No. 10 during Johnson's tenure stated that white powder residue was discovered following two parties held at the office complex despite Covid-19 restrictions. Johnson is understood not to have been at either party.

As reported by The Guardian, white powder residue was discovered the morning after a party at No. 10 on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021, according to sources.

Read next: UK's Johnson faces test as MPs mull 'Partygate' probe

Cleaning staff discovered white powder deposits in bathrooms and on a table in the No. 10 offices, according to The Guardian. Small plastic bags, tissues stained with blood spots, and vomit were said to have been discovered near the table on the floor next to the bin.

According to sources, there was also a smudged line of powder and a discarded Boots Advantage card on the same table. It is unknown who owned the card.

Outrage erupted when it was revealed that the party was held just hours before the Queen had to mourn alone at her husband's funeral due to social distancing rules, reported The Guardian. There were reports of a suitcase of wine being wheeled to Downing Street and a broken garden swing for the Prime Minister's son.

Traces of white powder and small plastic bags were also discovered in the bathrooms at No. 10's office complex on December 19, 2020, the morning after a Christmas party, according to sources.

Staff suspected the material was drug traces because it was discovered among other evidence of partying such as bottles, empty cans, and food wrappers. A separate source familiar with the parties claimed they were aware of drug use at both events.

Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, was tasked with compiling a report on lockdown-busting parties in No 10 and across Whitehall. Her report contained no mention of drug use, according to The Guardian. 

The newspaper's revelations come after evidence of cocaine use in toilets near Johnson's former parliamentary office and other locations on the parliamentary estate was revealed last year.

During her brief tenure as prime minister, Truss spokesperson said that “cracking down on illegal drugs” was a priority.

The Guardian posed a series of questions to Truss about the Chevening allegations. She declined to comment further. A spokesperson for her said in a one-line statement, “This is categorically untrue.”

  • Liz Truss
  • Boris Johnson
  • Chevening
  • Downing Street

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS