MORE DRUG EXPERTS TO QUIT

ALAN Johnson was warned last night that more members of the
Government's main drugs committee will quit after his sacking of the
chief drugs advisor.

Members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs have sent the
Home Secretary a letter saying that unless they get promises about
the role and treatment they will resign.

Two other members of the committee have already walked out after
Professor David Nutt was fired on Friday after attacking ministers
for not weakening the law on cannabis and ecstasy. He also claimed
ecstasy was no more dangerous than riding a horse and cannabis was
safer than alcohol or cigarettes.

But the scientists' letter said the affair had brought to the fore
wider concerns.

Mr Johnson defended the sacking in the Commons. He said it was his
right as a politician to take or reject advice.

Tory backbencher Patrick Cormack said that Mr Johnson should remember
Winston Churchill's words that scientists "should be on tap, not on
top".