This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8337185.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Johnson faces drugs row questions Drug experts' warning to Johnson
(about 1 hour later)
Home Secretary Alan Johnson faces MPs' questions about his decision to sack chief drugs adviser Prof David Nutt for comments about cannabis policy. More colleagues of the government chief drugs adviser sacked by Alan Johnson have hinted that they could resign.
Two members of the drugs advisory panel quit in protest and others have written to Mr Johnson seeking a meeting. The home secretary will face MPs' questions later on his decision to remove Professor David Nutt over comments on cannabis policy.
The Tories will ask about the future of the panel in the Commons at 1530 GMT. Two members of the drugs advisory council have already quit and others have written to him urging a meeting.
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. They say a "majority" of the panel have "serious concerns" and question whether they can continue in "good conscience".
"My sacking has cast a huge shadow over the relationship of science to policy," he wrote in the Times.
'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 had been 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". Mr Johnson said he had crossed a line between advice and campaigning, but Prof Nutt said "true" scientists were unlikely now to work for Mr Johnson.
The letter sent by the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs to Mr Johnson says the removal of Prof Nutt raises for some members "matters of such seriousness as to raise the question whether they can, in good conscience, continue on the council".
It adds: "There is a consensus amongst members that a face-to-face discussion is the correct and proper forum to take these matters further.
"We will therefore continue as per the last two days and avoid discussion with the media, insofar as we can persuade members to comply.
"This will be all the easier to maintain if the Home Office avoids actions and statements that appear to pre-judge the outcome of our meeting "
At 1530 GMT, the Conservatives will ask in the Commons about the future of the panel.
Writing in the Guardian, the home secretary said Prof Nutt had not been 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 council for 18 months - making scientific recommendations to ministers on how to classify banned drugs, based on the harm they can cause.
'Pre-determined agenda' 'Rubber stamp'
Fellow advisory council member Dr Les King resigned in protest on Sunday. 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.
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." Dr King told the BBC he did not think the panel could continue. He said ministers had used the council as "a rubber stamp, as a poodle, by coming to the advisory council with a pre-determined agenda about drug classification".
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 had been 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 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 2007 when Gordon Brown became prime minister.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.
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. The prime minister's spokesman said Mr 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.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.
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. 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 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."
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".
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman 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."