Drug panel revolt jolts Johnson

London: The home secretary faces mass resignations from the government's drug advisory body over his decision to force out its chairman, who accused ministers of distorting scientific evidence on cannabis.

Two members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs resigned on Sunday in protest at Alan Johnson's treatment of Professor David Nutt. Another member told The Guardian that the experts were "planning collective action" against Johnson, adding: "Everybody is devastated. We're all considering our positions."

Nutt said there was "no future" for the council in its present form, and it is thought the group's members may use a meeting to announce a mass resignation shortly.

In a letter in The Guardian, Johnson accuses Nutt of "campaigning against government policy" but insists he was not forced out because of his opinions.

"Professor Nutt was not sacked for his views, which I respect but disagree with," he writes. "He was asked to go because he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy." Scientists on the council are said to be preparing a letter to ministers seeking assurances that they will remain free to set their agenda and to speak freely about their research and findings.

The Times reported that it was possible the 28 remaining members would quit if their concerns were not addressed before a council meeting next week.

The collapse of the panel, which provides ministers with evidence about the harm caused by different drugs, would be a severe embarrassment for the government and deal a heavy political blow to Johnson, who has so far steered clear of the controversies that dogged many of his predecessors at the Home Office.

As the row intensified, Nutt said he had been contacted by more than half the council's members, who had shared their "horror and disgust" over the manner of his dismissal and were now considering resigning en masse.

Dr Les King, a former head of drug intelligence at the Forensic Science Service, was first to act, followed by Marion Walker, the head of the substance misuse service at Berkshire NHS foundation trust.

King said he had decided to step down because he felt Johnson had denied Nutt his "freedom of expression". He said that while the government had "a right" to reject the panel's advice, its attitude towards the advisory body had changed.