Labour was today embroiled in allegations that cocaine was widely abused at its Brighton conference.

An investigation has found traces of the class-A drug in lavatories at parties attended by members of the Government, journalists and lobbyists.

Swabs from five lavatories close to six of the biggest parties at the five-star Grand and Metropole hotels were examined and every sample tested positive.

A Labour spokesman said: "It is worth remembering that all party conferences are attended by many thousands of people from a range of organisations."

In another statement, Sussex Police said: "This is a counter-terrorism operation.

"The searching of persons entering the site is designed to detect and deter items which might be used in terrorism or cause harm to others. They are not conducting routine drugs searches.

"If anyone has information which suggests a known person or persons has been involved in illegal drugs, then we will investigate."

The positive tests came from locations within the conference's tightly policed secure zone.

Anyone taking drugs into the area would have had to risk taking them past potential bag and body searches.

London's Evening Standard, which carried out the investigation, detailed the positive tests.

One was taken on Tuesday night from lavatories opposite the Metropole Hotel's Viscount Suite, where MPs and activists from the North East were celebrating Northern Night, an event at which Tony and Cherie Blair were the guests of honour.

One partygoer was quoted as saying: "Cocaine is the drug of choice for many people in the Westminster world of politics, PR and media and among the metropolitan elite.

"It's a very Islington and Notting Hill thing. During Labour conference, Brighton becomes Islington and W11-on-sea and people take their pleasures with them. For some, that includes cocaine.

"What's amazing is that people are prepared to take the drug inside one of the most heavily policed areas of Britain."

September 30 2005