'No independent scientist could work for Home Secretary'
Professor David Nutt, sacked as the Government's top drugs adviser last week, has predicted more of his colleagues will resign in response to his treatment and warned that independent scientists will no longer want to work for the Home Secretary. The furore over his departure has led to predictions of mass resignations from the country's drugs advisory panel which could leave the service in disarray. Dr Les King, a panel member, resigned in protest on Sunday, followed by Marion Walker, a pharmacist, with others on the 31-strong group thought to be considering their positions. Prof Nutt said he believes several more scientists could leave the panel because of the pressure to conform to the Government's wishes. Writing in The Times, Prof Nutt said: "It seems unlikely that any "true" scientist - one who can only speak the truth - will be able to work for this, or future, Home Secretaries." The sacking has pitted many scientists against the Government. Professor Colin Blakemore, an Oxford University neuroscientist, and former head of the Medical Research Council, suggested the row threatened to upset the Government's entire system of scientific advisers. Speaking on the Today programme on Radio 4, he said: "This is not just an issue about drugs: the Government depends very widely on advice from experts who give their time freely." He said independent advice was essential on tackling issues as varied as flu pandemics and the disposal of nuclear waste. Prof Blakemore said such advice required scientists to be confident that they are "not going to get fired for talking" about the issues, adding that that confidence had been "very seriously" shaken by the latest row. snip http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6484045/Sacked-drug-tsar-claims-no-independent-scientist-could-work-for-Home-Secretary.html

They don't get paid, it seems, for their advice. So why bother? The postman obviously knows better than any number of professors ..... :roll:

I suspect the real problem here is when all these politicians have finished their short working weeks and short working year... They all Go Round To "Call Me Dave's" Place I Personally Gave Up Smoking Cannabis in 1985, because I realised I was talking the same kind of complete and utter nonsense now endemic in all our politicians.... But I reckon they have gone on to much stronger stuff, than cannabis, and are drinking alcohol and sniffing cocaine. Whilst I admit to sometimes falling over in a pub, I put it down to some bloke high on cocaine shoving me really hard. I do have a muscular disease whch means that if sometimes shoves me really hard I am very likely to fall down - unless they have just given me a blow. I personally always ask for a cup of tea when I go to a pub... I suggest, the new administration introduces piss tests for all members of the EU Dictatorship.... The result will almost certainly show that nearly all politicians are permanently under the influece of psychotropic substances. You try flying a glider or running a company when you are on LSD. It will almost certainly crash - and you will be dead - or your company will go bust. Our Politicians need to give up the drugs The Drugs Dont Work - They Make You Daft. Tony