Former Labour activist ‘let down by party’ in MP diazepam storm
THE man who claims he supplied Welsh Labour MP Stephen Doughty with the Class C drug diazepam says he feels abandoned by the party and cannot understand why Mr Doughty is still on Labour’s front bench.
The Cardiff South and Penarth MP apologised last weekend after the Mail on Sunday revealed how Byron Long, a constituent, had given him some diazepam tablets after Mr Doughty asked for them.
The prescription-only anti-depressant drug, which is highly addictive, is better known as Valium.
Possession of it without a prescription is a criminal offence.
Mr Long alleges that between 2017 and 2019 he gave Mr Doughty around 140 diazepam tablets, although the number has been strenuously denied by the MP.
Mr Doughty appears to have admitted asking Mr Long for tablets on one occasion, but has said in a statement that in the event he didn’t need them.
The MP, who sits on Labour’s Commons front bench as a Shadow Foreign Minister, has spoken openly about his mental health problems, saying he has periodically been prescribed medication, including diazepam, over the past 12 years to deal with panic attacks and anxiety disorder.
In a text message exchange from 2019, Mr Doughty invited Mr Long to come to his home to meet his cat, adding: “Do you have any spare diazepam by any chance? I haven’t been able to get to GP and need some for flying next week!”
A statement issued by a spokeswoman for Mr Doughty said: “Stephen has spoken openly about his own struggles about mental health. He is sad to have to reveal personal medical information in these circumstances – but feels that others talking about their mental health experiences can help destigmatise the challenges so many people go through.
“He has been prescribed medication over the last 12 years on a number of occasions, including diazepam, to deal with panic attacks and anxiety disorder, alongside talking therapies.
“Stephen had been good personal friends with Byron Long for many years and they regularly met for coffee, food and discussions about a range of issues, ranging from family, to politics, and their shared fondness for cats.
“Stephen had personally assisted Byron as a friend through some difficult periods in his recent life, which Mr Long had profusely thanked him for on many occasions, and he regularly checked in on his well-being. He had also supported and encouraged Byron with local voluntary work – such as campaigning with Mind and the local St Vincent de Paul shop.
“Stephen and his office had also assisted Mr Long for many years dating back to 2013, as a constituent, on multiple issues he had requested formal assistance on. He and his team have spent a considerable amount of time assisting him, as they would do any other constituent, to the best of their abilities.
“Stephen categorically denies having obtained 140 diazepam tablets from Mr Long,” she added.
“He has never had that many in his life and is aware that their use should be limited, for example, for a short period of acute anxiety. His regular meetings with Byron consisted of tea, coffee, cake and chat between two friends.
“In summer 2019 Stephen was due to take a long overseas flight and was suffering last minute and unexpected panic attacks about the upcoming journey, which had made him extremely uncomfortable and distressed. To the best of his recollection, at the time he was panicking, had been unable to get to a GP for an appointment, and as a friend who he regularly shared confidential personal mental health worries and anxieties with, asked Byron if he had a few spare diazepam, which he had previously been prescribed for such circumstances, and taken without any issues.
“Stephen apologises unreservedly for any error he made in making this request, which was to a friend who he had shared many highly personal, trusted and mutually supportive conversations with about mental health over many years. In the event Stephen subsequently cancelled his trip – and did not need medication.”
Mr Long, 62, has long-standing housing problems as a result of living in the Celestia apartment block in Cardiff Bay, which has serious structural defects.
He also suffers from anxiety and depression and became disillusioned when he claims Mr Doughty didn’t give him as much support with his problems as he expected.
Mr Long told us: “I feel incredibly let down by Stephen Doughty and by the Labour Party. I find it incredible that no action has been taken against him. He’s still on Labour’s front bench despite admitting a criminal offence.
“We both committed a criminal offence and I intend to report myself to the police and make a statement.
“I want to make a big apology to my fantastic psychiatrist and my mental health support team. The diazepam I had was meant to help me with my mental health, not Stephen Doughty. “I feel I have let them down.” Speaking of his past involvement in the Cardiff South and Penarth Labour Party, Mr Long said: “I put in an incredible amount of time and energy. In the 2016 Assembly election I won a party award as a champion campaigner.
“The following year I had been selected and was due to stand as a Cardiff council candidate in Llanrumney, but later withdrew because of my mental health issues.
“I’ve become very disillusioned with the Labour Party. I’m being portrayed as the villain when I’m the one who has been let down.
“Everyone’s going on about Stephen Doughty’s mental health, but they couldn’t care less about mine.”
A senior Cardiff Labour source, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s very odd that no action has been taken against Stephen Doughty within the Labour Party.
“Perhaps it’s to do with the fact that he’s a Keir Starmer supporter. If something like this had happened to [left wing Labour MP] Richard Burgon, he would have been suspended instantly.”
Vale of Glamorgan councillor Peter King is secretary of Cardiff South and Penarth Constituency Labour Party (CLP). He said: “No party member has raised this unfortunate matter with me. Our next CLP meeting will take place on the third Friday in May and people will be able to ask questions there if they want to.”
We have repeatedly sought a statement from the Labour Party centrally about what action, if any, is being taken against Mr Doughty, but none has been forthcoming.
We contacted South Wales Police regarding Mr Doughty’s admission that he broke the law.
A spokesman responded: “We cannot comment in response to inquiries about named individuals.”
Mr Doughty did not respond to a message we sent him.