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More advisers may go in drugs row Johnson faces drugs row questions
(about 2 hours later)
The home secretary faces the threat of more scientists resigning after sacking his chief drugs adviser Prof David Nutt for his comments about cannabis policy. Home Secretary Alan Johnson faces MPs' questions about his decision to sack chief drugs adviser Prof David Nutt for comments about cannabis policy.
Two members of the drugs advisory panel have quit in protest and others are to meet to discuss their next move. Two members of the drugs advisory panel quit in protest and others have written to Mr Johnson seeking a meeting.
Alan Johnson said Prof Nutt was sacked for "crossing the line" between giving advice and campaigning for a policy. The Tories will ask about the future of the panel in the Commons at 1530 GMT.
But Prof Nutt told the Times any "true" scientist would be unlikely to work for the home secretary in future. Mr Johnson said Prof Nutt had crossed a line between advice and campaigning but Prof Nutt said "true" scientists were unlikely now to work for Mr Johnson.
"My sacking has cast a huge shadow over the relationship of science to policy," he wrote. "My sacking has cast a huge shadow over the relationship of science to policy," he wrote in the Times.
'Campaigner' claim'Campaigner' claim
Prof Nutt was sacked on Friday after using a lecture to say that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.Prof Nutt was sacked on Friday after using a lecture to say that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
He also said it was upgraded to Class B - against the council's advice - for political reasons. Earlier in the year he had suggested that taking ecstasy was no more dangerous than horse riding.He also said it was upgraded to Class B - against the council's advice - for political reasons. Earlier in the year he had suggested that taking ecstasy was no more dangerous than horse riding.
DEPARTING ADVISERS Prof David Nutt - chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of DrugsDr Les King - part-time advisor to the Department of Health, senior chemist on ACMDMarion Walker - clinical director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's substance misuse service, Royal Pharmaceutical Society's representative on ACMD Send us your comments Easton: Why was Nutt fired?DEPARTING ADVISERS Prof David Nutt - chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of DrugsDr Les King - part-time advisor to the Department of Health, senior chemist on ACMDMarion Walker - clinical director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's substance misuse service, Royal Pharmaceutical Society's representative on ACMD Send us your comments Easton: Why was Nutt fired?
Hitting back in the Guardian, the home secretary said Prof Nutt was not sacked for his views "which I respect but disagree with" but because "he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy".Hitting back in the Guardian, the home secretary said Prof Nutt was not sacked for his views "which I respect but disagree with" but because "he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy".
Mr Johnson added: "There are not many kids in my constituency in danger of falling off a horse - there are thousands at risk of being sucked into a world of hopeless despair through drug addiction."Mr Johnson added: "There are not many kids in my constituency in danger of falling off a horse - there are thousands at risk of being sucked into a world of hopeless despair through drug addiction."
Prof Nutt chaired the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for 18 months - making scientific recommendations to ministers on how to classify banned drugs, based on the harm they can cause.Prof Nutt chaired the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for 18 months - making scientific recommendations to ministers on how to classify banned drugs, based on the harm they can cause.
'Rubber stamp' decisions 'Pre-determined agenda'
Fellow advisory council member Dr Les King resigned in protest on Sunday, saying Mr Johnson had denied Prof Nutt the right to free speech. Another panel member, pharmacist Marion Walker, has also resigned. Fellow advisory council member Dr Les King resigned in protest on Sunday. Another panel member, pharmacist Marion Walker, has also resigned.
Dr King said the government's attitude to the panel had changed and the advisory council was essentially being asked to "rubber stamp a pre-determined position". On the panel's future, Dr King told the BBC: "I don't think it can continue. David would have to be replaced for it to continue, I'd have to be replaced. Others I think will certainly resign."
He said ministers had used the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs as "a rubber stamp, as a poodle, by coming to the advisory council with a pre-determined agenda about drug classification".
The remaining 28 members, many of whom are understood to support Prof Nutt, are due to meet on 10 November to decide how to respond.The remaining 28 members, many of whom are understood to support Prof Nutt, are due to meet on 10 November to decide how to respond.
Any minister who hides away from scientific advisers who are saying clearly what the scientific evidence shows is frankly going to end up with policy which is a complete mess Chris HuhneLiberal DemocratsAny minister who hides away from scientific advisers who are saying clearly what the scientific evidence shows is frankly going to end up with policy which is a complete mess Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats
The BBC understands Mr Johnson will seek to reassure them in a letter on Monday but there are also reports they are seeking to bring forward their meeting. The advisory council has written to Mr Johnson seeking a dialogue to get clarification on what Mr Johnson sees as the role of the committee and its members, the BBC's Mark Easton said.
Former home secretary Charles Clarke said he believed the row dated back to Gordon Brown's decision to re-open the debate about the classification of cannabis. Former home secretary Charles Clarke said he believed the row dated back to 2007 when Gordon Brown became prime minister.
"The mistake was right at the beginning of his premiership, saying he was going to change the cannabis rules before the advisory committee had considered its position. I think that was an error," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme."The mistake was right at the beginning of his premiership, saying he was going to change the cannabis rules before the advisory committee had considered its position. I think that was an error," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He said ministers should reassure their scientific advisers that "if they give their advice, their conclusions will be very seriously considered" and that decisions were not being "pre-judged".
Confidence in systemConfidence in system
The prime minister's spokesman said Gordon Brown fully supported Mr Johnson but said Mr Brown had not been personally involved.
He also denied suggestions the government had a pre-determined view on the classification of cannabis and said it was "extremely supportive" of all its advisory bodies, and it would be "regrettable" if there were more resignations from the council.
For the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne said ministers had to "carry the can" but said policy must be based on evidence.For the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne said ministers had to "carry the can" but said policy must be based on evidence.
He told the BBC: "Any minister who hides away from scientific advisers who are saying clearly what the scientific evidence shows is frankly going to end up with policy which is a complete mess."He told the BBC: "Any minister who hides away from scientific advisers who are saying clearly what the scientific evidence shows is frankly going to end up with policy which is a complete mess."
David Cameron said the current classifications of drugs should remain unchangedDavid Cameron said the current classifications of drugs should remain unchanged
Professor Colin Blakemore, a former head of the British Medical Research Council, said the government depended on experts who gave their time freely to give advice on issues from handling pandemic flu to the disposing of nuclear waste. Professor Colin Blakemore, a former head of the British Medical Research Council, said the government depended on experts who gave their time freely.
He told the BBC: "They have got to have confidence in the system and hope that they are not going to get fired for talking about it."He told the BBC: "They have got to have confidence in the system and hope that they are not going to get fired for talking about it."
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said that advice on drugs was particularly sensitive as policy gave signs to the public about whether a government was soft or hard on drugs.
Asked about the row following a speech in London, Conservative leader David Cameron said advisers should be able to give advice in a "clear and unvarnished way" but all people in the public eye had to think about the wider implications of what they said, he added.Asked about the row following a speech in London, Conservative leader David Cameron said advisers should be able to give advice in a "clear and unvarnished way" but all people in the public eye had to think about the wider implications of what they said, he added.
"I don't think what Professor Nutt said about the respective merits of taking ecstasy and riding horses was a particularly good way of putting it," he added."I don't think what Professor Nutt said about the respective merits of taking ecstasy and riding horses was a particularly good way of putting it," he added.
But he added that if in government he would hope to avoid the "sort of unseemly spat we have seen over the last few days", with the home secretary "shouting on television".But he added that if in government he would hope to avoid the "sort of unseemly spat we have seen over the last few days", with the home secretary "shouting on television".