BLAIR'S SHAM WAR ON DRUGS

Between 2000 and 2004, 35,855 people were convicted of supplying the most serious drugs – cocaine, heroin, crack, Ecstasy, LSD and methadone.

But just two were handed a life term, the maximum sentence in England and Wales.

In the same period, only two of the 18,186 convicted of supplying class B drugs – such as amphetamines – were handed the maximum 14-year jail term.

And none of the 3,668 people convicted of dealing in class C drugs – which include cannabis and steroids – received the maximum 14 years.

Last night Conservative MP David Davies, who uncovered the figures in a Commons question to Home Secretary John Reid, described the lack of maximum sentences as "an appalling travesty".

Mr Davies, MP for Monmouth, said: "This Government said we would be getting tough on crime and people peddling class A drugs.

"Cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD and Ecstasy ruin everyone's lives that come into contact with them and dealers who profit from misery must be given the strongest sentences possible.

"But clearly the facts show this is just not happening because this Government is soft on these criminals.

"We're spending millions of pounds and losing soldiers' lives to destroy poppy fields in Afghanistan yet back home they are being betrayed by soft jail terms.

"It is not just our citizens' health that is affected by drugs. Addicts cause so much of our crime as they steal and rob to feed their habit.

"Repeat offenders and dealers must be imprisoned. The cost of keeping them in jail is nothing compared to the amount their criminality costs vulnerable teenagers, families and elderly, all targets of crime.

"I have been the victim of a serial burglar who was stealing to feed his habit. He struck as my wife and kids slept and I don't want anyone to go through what we did."

The two class A drug dealers given life sentences were both convicted of dealing in heroin.

No one jailed for peddling cocaine, Ecstasy, methadone or crack received life.

Pressure group DrugScope said life terms should be used when jailing the big-time dealers.

Spokesman Harry Shapiro said judges should apply longer sentences to "major international traffickers whose operation is protected by extreme violence and intimidation".

The Home Office yesterday blamed the judges for the lack of maximum sentences.

A spokesman said: "Sentencing is a matter for the courts taking into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender.

"Tackling class A drugs is a priority as they do the most harm to the individual, to communities and society in the whole. The range of sentences available to the courts includes a maximum life sentence, which reflects our approach."

A Royal Courts of Justice spokeswoman said: "All sentencing decisions reflect the full range of evidence presented to the court in that case at that time."