Boris Johnson refused to say he has taken cocaine. Here's how other candidates responded to that question

Boris Johnson launched his Conservative leadership campaign with a patriotic message about bringing the country together again, and his intention to deliver Brexit – even if it means leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.

However, it was his refusal to talk about his past alleged drug use that drew criticism, despite previous admissions that he had taken the drug when he was at university.

The former foreign secretary previously admitted using cocaine as a 19-year-old but then also claimed he had not actually snorted the drug in a separate interview.

Pushed on whether he had ever taken cocaine at the time, Johnson replied: "I think the canonical account of this event when I was 19 has appeared many times and I think what most people in this country really want us to focus on is what we can do for them and what our plans are for this great country of ours."

During his leadership campaign opener, he was asked whether he had ever done anything illegal, Johnson simply said: "I cannot swear that I have always observed a top speed limit of 70mph."

A number of Tory leadership candidates recently revealed their past drug use, whilst others denied ever using illegal substances.

Sajid Javid’s team said the home secretary has never taken illegal drugs, nor has Marke Harper.

Here are the politicians who have spoken about it:

Michael Gove

Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty

It all started with Michael Gove, who admitted taking cocaine "on several occasions" at social gatherings when he was a young journalist.

"I took drugs on several occasions at social events more than 20 years ago,” he told The Daily Mail last week.

At the time I was a young journalist. It was a mistake. I look back and think, ‘I wish I hadn’t done that’. It was 20 years ago and, yes, it was a mistake. But I don’t believe that past mistakes disqualify you.

Rival Dominic Raab remarked in response that he "rather admired his honesty."

Andrea Leadsom

(Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty)

Andrea Leadsom admitted to smoking cannabis while at university in remarks made to The Independent.

The former leader of the Commons was responding to questions about her past drug use, following the revelation that leadership rival Michael Gove had taken cocaine.

Leadsom, 56, said she had never taken cocaine or any other class A drug and had never smoked cannabis, which she called "weed" since leaving Warwick University in the 1980s.

“I have never taken cocaine or Class A drugs,” she told The Independent.

Everyone is entitled to a private life before becoming an MP. I smoked weed at university and have never smoked it again since.

Esther McVey

(Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty)

Rory Stewart

(Picture: Rex Features)

Stewart told the Telegraph he smoked opium in Afghanistan at a wedding. “I was invited into the house, the opium pipe was passed around at a wedding."

Matt Hancock

(Picture: Reuters) 

A source close to Hancock told the Telegraph he had "tried cannabis a few times as a student but has not taken any illicit drugs since."

Dominic Raab

(Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Raab previously admitted to trying cannabis in university: “At university, I tried cannabis, not very often as I was into sport. It was a mistake, particularly the more I know now about the link between it and mental health issues.

But it was a long time ago and was particularly few and far between and I have never taken cocaine or any class A drugs.

Jeremy Hunt

(Picture: EPA)

He told the Times:

I think I had a cannabis lassi when I went backpacking through India.

That is almost as naughty as wheat fields.

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