THE Government’s drugs advisory panel was in turmoil last night after the Home Secretary angered scientists by dismissing the committee’s chairman.

One prominent member announced his resignation yesterday – and more are predicted – in protest at Alan Johnson’s decision to axe Professor David Nutt after he criticised the Government’s drugs policy.

Dr Les King said the Home Secretary had denied Prof Nutt his right to free speech and called for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to become truly independent from politicians.

Prof Nutt told the BBC a second member, pharmacist Marion Walker, had also resigned.

She was not available for comment yesterday and the Home Office could not confirm if her resignation had been received.

The row is threatening the panel’s future and has exposed a rift that members say has been simmering for several years.

Dr King said the Government’s attitude to the panel has shifted and home secretaries now had a “pre-defined political agenda” when they asked for its expert advice.

“It’s being asked to rubber stamp a pre-determined position,”

he said.

“If sufficient members do resign, the committee will no longer be able to operate.”

Prof Nutt told BBC News: “I think the council is untenable.”

He said Mr Johnson had proved that “he doesn’t understand how scientists think”, and added: “I don’t see how scientists on the council could continue to work with him.”

Dr King worked for the Forensic Science Service for 30 years and spent ten years as head of the Drugs Intelligence Unit before his retirement in 2001.

He has been associated with the drugs advisory panel for 15 years, became a co-opted member eight years ago and a full member last year.

He said: “He (Prof Nutt) may be an advisor, but he’s still got the right to say what he likes. That was being denied.”

Mr Johnson told Sky News: “You cannot have a chief advisor at the same time stepping into the public field and campaigning against Government decisions.

“You can do one or the other, you can’t do both.”

He added: “I’ve got enormous respect for the advisory council.

“I want to meet them very soon.

“I’ve got enormous respect for the scientific community.

“They’ve got to understand that Professor Nutt crossed this line between offering advice...

and then campaigning against the Government on political decisions.”

Dr King said the Government had a right to reject the panel’s advice but added that the attitude towards the panel had changed “very recently”.

“I suppose it goes back to 2002 with (then Home Secretary) David Blunkett who was minded to reclassify cannabis downwards.

“He made it clear to us his wishes. The council supported that.

“In that situation, it was something that the council readily agreed to.

“That wasn’t too worrisome, but that precedent then continued.”

Dr King emailed his resignation on Saturday.

A Home Office spokeswoman said yesterday: “We can confirm that Dr Les King has resigned.

“We are not going to give a running commentary on the speculation around further resignations.

“We will not be commenting further."