Labour Councillor Matthew Dorrance has raised concerns with MP for Brecon and Radnorshire Fay Jones regarding comments made by Home Secretary James Cleverly.

The Mirror reported that Mr Cleverly told guests at a Downing Street reception that 'a little bit of Rohypnol' in his wife's drink 'every night' was 'not really illegal if it’s only a little bit'. The comments are said to have come hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking.

Since the comments were made public, many have called for his resignation, with campaigners saying his comments were 'upsetting and triggering' to those victim of spiking and sexual assault.

Mr Cleverly is said to have laughed that the secret to a long marriage was to make sure your spouse was 'someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there'.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Cleverly said: “I made a joke. It was an awful joke, but I apologised immediately and I am absolutely committed and I have been throughout my political career, to the protection of women and girls.”

Now, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, Matthew Dorrance, has written to Fay Jones and Craig Williams MP asking them to act after the comments were made public.

Mr Dorrance, who is Powys County Council’s Lead White Ribbon Ambassador and Cabinet Member for Tackling Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, said: "I was deeply concerned to learn of the comments made by the Home Secretary when he said he gives his wife a “date-rape” drug. Charities were already warning that 'rising numbers of women are experiencing domestic abuse at Christmas, with calls to helplines still higher than pre-pandemic levels due to the cost of living crisis.' I implore you to contact your party officials and ask that checks be undertaken to ensure Mr Cleverley’s wife is safe and that the Conservative Party Safeguarding Policy which states “[w]e strongly believe that everyone, regardless of their age, background, ability, culture, disability, gender, language, religious beliefs or sexual identity has the right to protection from abuse” has been upheld by the Home Secretary. 

"The Home Secretary’s comments are abhorrent, and he should know better.  Too many women and girls are victims of this abuse and the words of the Home Secretary put more women and girls at risk. The Home Secretary knows that words matter.  His is a job that should be standing up for women and girls, working to end male violence against women and girls and being clear that men’s violence against women and girls has no place in our society. Instead, he has shown that he is unfit to hold one of our great offices of state. Will you stand up for women and girls and join me in calling for him to resign? As a member of the UK Government and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister respectively you are in a position to act in the interests of women and girls and to call out the awful behaviour of the Home Secretary. Will you do it?"

Fay Jones has been approached for comment.

Mr Cleverly has told Sky News: “I’m sorry because it clearly caused hurt, it’s potentially distracted from the work we were doing to tackle spiking to help predominantly women who are the victims of spiking and I regret that. But I’m absolutely determined to continue the work that I’ve been doing for years.”