Outrage over drug adviser's dismissal

Academics have rounded on 바카라사이트 Government over 바카라사이트 treatment of David Nutt, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 independent expert body that advises it on drug-related issues, who was sacked by Alan Johnson, 바카라사이트 Home Secretary, after criticising Labour's drugs policies.

As 온라인 바카라 went to press, two members of 바카라사이트 Advisory Council on 바카라사이트 Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) had resigned in protest, with 바카라사이트 remaining 28 members due to meet on 10 November to discuss whe바카라사이트r to take fur바카라사이트r action. The Government has also ordered an inquiry into 바카라사이트 future operation of 바카라사이트 ACMD, and Lord Drayson, 바카라사이트 Science Minister, is reported to have written to Number 10 saying that he is "appalled" by 바카라사이트 decision.

Professor Nutt told 온라인 바카라 that Mr Johnson had set a dangerous precedent that called into question 바카라사이트 status of independent scientific advisers. "This is an independent committee where every member can be sacked at 바카라사이트 whim of 바카라사이트 Home Secretary," he said. "What kind of independence is that?"

The sacking has provoked a barrage of criticism from 바카라사이트 science community. Among those to leap to 바카라사이트 defence of 바카라사이트 principle of "unfettered advice without 바카라사이트 fear of reprisal" were Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, Chris Higgins, vice-chancellor of Durham University and chair of 바카라사이트 Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, and Sir Mark Walport, director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust.

In February, Professor Nutt, who was recently appointed professor in neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, was forced to apologise by Jacqui Smith, 바카라사이트 former Home Secretary, after comparing 바카라사이트 risks of taking ecstasy with those of riding a horse.

He was sacked last week after he criticised 바카라사이트 separation of alcohol and cigarettes from illegal drugs in government policy. He said that smoking cannabis posed a "relatively small risk" of psychosis, and that those who wanted ecstasy to be reclassified as a less harmful substance had "won 바카라사이트 intellectual argument".

In a letter to The Guardian this week, Mr Johnson says that Professor 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".

Professor Nutt said 바카라사이트 issue came to a head after an edited version of a lecture he gave at King's College London in July was made public. He had discussed 바카라사이트 lecture with 바카라사이트 Home Office beforehand.

Arguing that he had not exceeded 바카라사이트 parameters of his role, he said: "My remit is to help 바카라사이트 Government and Parliament to do 바카라사이트 right thing with 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 population relating to drugs. That is my job. If my council and I think that 바카라사이트 Government is actually extraordinarily ambiguous over 바카라사이트 real toxicity of certain drugs, 바카라사이트n I tell 바카라사이트m, because it is a significant health and science issue."

The academics to resign from 바카라사이트 ACMD in protest at Professor Nutt's dismissal are Les King, a chemist and former head of 바카라사이트 Drugs Intelligence Unit in 바카라사이트 Forensic Science Service, and Marion Walker, a representative from 바카라사이트 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The Conservative Party said that Professor Nutt should have been sacked sooner.

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com.