GB News host hoodwinked by 'vile' made-up drug

GB News presenter Darren Grimes had his public service hat on last week, warning his X followers about a disturbing new drug trend in Keir Starmer’s lawless Britain.

Grimes claimed that “West Midlands Police have issued a stark warning about a disturbing new drug called Strawberry Quick – a type of crystal meth disguised as sweets”, explaining how “this vile tactic is designed to trick kids into ingesting highly dangerous drugs. Stay vigilant. Protect our kids.”

All good stuff – except, of course, that West Midlands Police had not issued a stark warning about a disturbing new drug called Strawberry Quick, and the drug is a hoax going back to at least 2007 and reported as far afield as the US and South Africa. “‘Strawberry Quick’ warnings shared online by Black Country residents is resurfaced ‘hoax’,” ran the headline in the Wolverhampton Express & Star.

It’s now 28 years since Chris Morris’s Brass Eye hoodwinked various celebrities into getting worked up over a made-up drug, Cake. Seems some people are just as credulous as ever!

Meanwhile, bad news for fans of Conservative internal democracy paraphernalia – the podium used when ITV hosted a Tory leadership debate in 2022 has been sold.

The broadcaster last week placed the podium used by host Julie Etchingham to quiz Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Tom Tugendhat on eBay. It stated that “the podium’s flat clear perspex top has a sleek and modern look, and the heavy black base ensures stability,” unlike, er, the eventual winner of the contest.

Alas, it has now been snapped up for just £55, meaning you’re denied the chance to reenact such moments as Sunak accusing Truss of “socialism”, Mordaunt moaning she had been the victim of a “toxic” smear campaign from rivals and Truss criticising Sunak’s polished style as she acknowledged she was not the “slickest performer on this stage” but had a record of “delivery”. That, as they say, hasn’t aged well.