More resignations over drug adviser sacking
Updated on 10 November 2009
Three more members of the government's drugs advisory committee resign after the chair, Professor David Nutt, was sacked by the home secretary.
Chemist Dr Simon Campbell, psychologist Dr John Marsden and scientific consultant Ian Ragan stepped down from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) following showdown talks with Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
The meeting was held amid the fallout from the sacking of the government's chief drugs adviser Professor David Nutt over his controversial remarks about cannabis, ecstasy and LSD.
Political correspondent Cathy Newman said: "There was an emergency meeting today and following that three scientists have quit. They are Simon Campbell, John Marsden and Ian Ragan. That means a total of five have now left in protest at Professor Nutt's sacking.
"They were meeting to agree on relations going forward between the council and the government. It was a tense meeting, it was very long."
A Home Office statement said: "The Home Secretary emphasised the value he placed on ACMD's advice, the important contribution the ACMD had made to government drugs policy in the past and how he expected it to continue to do so in the future.
"The ACMD summarised their concerns regarding how their advice is received by the Home Office and over the dismissal of Prof Nutt."
"Since that statement was put out it has emerged that these three scientists felt that their independence was being threatened by the government because of the dismissal of Professor Nutt, so they have walked," Cathy Newman said.
Professor Nutt told Channel 4 News he was not surprised, and suggested the way the council was being treated was "despicable". He also said he thought it was not possible for people to work with this government for "sensible drug laws".
