Cameron hires ex drug dealer to run his security at top Tory party summit

Security firm boss Gordon McLean was exposed as a central figure in a network of drug-dealing bouncers on ITV’s World In Action

Unrepentant: Gordon Mclean is caught on film saying he'll turn a blind eye to narcotics

David Cameron hired a notorious ex-drug dealing bouncer as head of his security team for a Tory Party summit at a luxurious hotel.

Security firm boss Gordon McLean later received a letter personally signed by the PM thanking him for his work.

He provided staff for the Parliamentary away day on September 19 – which saw 200 Tories including Chancellor George Osborne and Education Secretary Michael Gove gather for morale boosting talks.

But he had already been exposed as a central figure in a network of drug-dealing bouncers on ITV’s World In Action.

And last week, brazen McLean, 54, bragged to an undercover Sunday Mirror investigator he was still prepared to “turn a blind eye” to illegal drugs use.

Shockingly, when asked his views on how he would deal with narcotics taking, he told us: “We can turn a blind eye to everything. We’re not morally bound.

“The only thing to be worried about is the tragedy of someone overdosing. But we have no interest whatsoever.

“I’m prepared to do nothing, even if it’s right in front of us.” He added that he would only escalate matters if asked to do so.

Our investigation brings into question the professional judgment of the Prime Minister’s advisers and is certain to stun senior Metropolitan police officers and aides tasked with shielding him from risk and controversy.

A source said last night: “It’s very damaging to Mr Cameron and the top brass. They obviously didn’t know about this man’s past but surely they should have done. He had been on national TV selling illegal drugs and bragging about it, for heaven’s sake.

Exposed: Gordon Mclean on World in Action in 1996

“The Tories talk about having a zero tolerance for drugs and drug dealers yet here they are paying one to protect them.

“For Mr Cameron to then write to him thanking him personally beggars belief.”

In the exposé by ITV’s flagship ­investigation programme World In Action in 1995, McLean was shown to be the provider of illegal bodybuilding steroids to other drug-dealing doormen in Nottingham.

The fitness fanatic was also caught on camera selling Class B ­amphetamine – known as speed – to ­clubbers he was paid to keep safe.

McLean bragged about pushing £8 wraps of speed, saying: “It’s kind of purish. If people come to me who I know, I can sort it.”

Filmed handing over a stash of amphetamine pills in return for cash, he sneered at undercover investigator Donal Macintyre: “If anybody dies, don’t mention my name.”

Although he was never convicted of drug dealing, the shocking footage can still be viewed on YouTube.

In an embarrassing and potentially damaging move the Tories hired McLean’s firm, Bridgegate Security, to provide uniformed guards at an “away day” bonding session at the four-star Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The venue is near Mr Cameron’s ­constituency home in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which he shares with wife Samantha and their three young children.It is believed Mr Cameron’s permanent team of armed police protection officers was also present.

The event was designed to rally the Conservatives after opinion polls revealed a damaging slump in their popularity.

Backbench MPs were addressed by the Prime Minister, Tory strategists and the Government’s director of communications, Craig Oliver. In the evening, the Education Secretary hosted a quiz.

Days later, McLean was personally THANKED by Mr Cameron in a letter praising him for his “discreet service”.

This week – wrongly believing he was pitching for a lucrative security contract – McLean met our undercover reporter in a hotel close to his offices in Nottingham.

He was told his services might be required for a fictitious private music industry event.

Smiling and relaxed, he arrived wearing jeans, deck shoes and a quilted anorak.

Unaware he was being filmed, he appeared keen to discuss his role at the away day in detail. He said: “I was so pleased to be invited to do the job. It’s so impressive for us. We love it.”

He went on: “I recognised people in the Cabinet and key people like George Osborne. Everyone was wonderfully pleasant and relaxed. It was a real day out. They had a game of football. About 20 of them played in a field by the hotel before coming back for drinks.”

He even described a “Plebgate”-style incident at the hotel’s main entrance when one MP insisted on being allowed through the gate without showing a pass.

He said: “There was just one person who bowled past me without any ­intention of showing his Parliamentary pass. There’s always one. I didn’t even recognise him. He was a big, older chap. He said: ‘I don’t show my pass.’ If he’d been on his own, I would have taken issue with him but he was with four or five other MPs who all showed their passes. But it wasn’t good.

“If he’d got caught with some girly up in the hotel by the man from the ­Telegraph, whose fault would that be? We work at the sharp end of security.”

Away day: The Crowne Plaza hotel

Mr Cameron’s appreciative letter to McLean has been posted on Bridgegate Security’s website as a testimonial to the firm’s connections.

Addressed “Dear Gordon” in the Prime Minister’s own handwriting, it reads: “I wanted to thank you very much for your help organising the security for our Parliamentary Away Day at Heythrop Park last week. Your security team were incredibly polite and provided efficient and discreet service through the day.

“I understand how difficult it must have been increasing personnel numbers at such short notice and your assistance was hugely appreciated.”

The letter concludes: “Please pass on my sincere thanks to everyone who was involved on the day. This comes with my very best wishes for the future.”

It is signed by Mr Cameron: “With many thanks, from David.”

McLean said last night: “As a business we operate to the letter of the law. Our company policy is zero-tolerance. However, this particular event I viewed as a private party and was particularly excited at the opportunity to work with such a blue chip organisation.

“That’s not to say I swept aside policy, but looked upon it as an area where our objective was to... lock down the event to prevent any access by reporters.

“I viewed the drug-related issues, if there were any, to be particularly managed by them and their team.”

A Conservative Party spokesman refused to comment on our ­investigation. But last night a Tory source said: “The Conservative Party works with hundreds of small and medium-sized firms every year, all across the UK, at many different events.”

He added: “We were not aware of these allegations when we hired him.”

Mirror