It has long been my impression that Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband lack substance and project an image of enthusiastic sixth formers in a schools debating society.

Regardless of the subject matter they’ll enthuse on any subject when sniffing around for votes.

According to Nick, drug users are victims.

Perhaps he is right because people in his position have failed to address the problems and are prepared to condone the use of drugs, despite substantive evidence revealing the dangers.

So with lots of users looking to legitimise their craving what better time to promote the argument that personal possession and use of drugs should no longer be a criminal offence?

It is fitting that Alan Turing, the Bletchley Park codebreaker, should be remembered for his work, not his sexuality.

However, he broke the law as it stood in 1952 and was convicted for gross indecency with his male lover.

He thereafter agreed to chemical castration as an alternative to prison.

In the circumstances wouldn’t it have been preferable to let him rest in peace, rather than regurgitate an issue that some consider objectionable.

But with an election looming, step forward Ed who is reported to have told the Gay Times that he wants to extend the principle of the questionable royal pardon that was granted to Alan Turing for his offence, to all those convicted of the same crime.

Quite apart from the fact that even by today’s standards some of the 49,000 convictions for so-called ‘gross indecency’ are considered offensive, how can it be in society’s best interests to pardon convicted criminals, unless it can be shown they have been wrongly convicted?

Unfortunately people like Nick and Ed are nurturing the victim culture that now exists in society.

It’s so much easier to say that pregnant teenagers are victims, the obese are victims, drug users are victims, criminals are victims rather than spell out that we must all take responsibility for our own actions and face the consequences if we don’t.

Neil Kelly Tredcroft Road Hove