Dr Simon Campbell resigned from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on Tuesday after Professor David Nutt was forced to step down for criticising Government policy, especially relating to cannabis.

He was one of three advisers to go this week taking the total of those who have resigned in support of Prof Nutt to five.

Dr Campbell, a synthetic organic chemist, said: "I think that was a clash of personalities. I don't agree with the manner in which he was dismissed. I think such an abrupt dismissal was an unnecessary humiliation for such a respected scientist."

Asked about the Government's attitude to science, he added: "I think the Home Secretary will listen to what the council says but at the end of the day I think political expediency rules the roost."

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, dismissed Prof Nutt after accusing him of "crossing a line" into politics, especially after he criticised the decision to reclassify cannabis as class B, against ACMD advice.

Dr Campbell said: "When we made our recommendation on cannabis we saw no reason to change the classification and yet the government has already decided to move from Class C to Class B.

"That can only be because the government saw it as a votes-catching exercise."

Dr John Marsden and Dr Ian Ragan also resigned from the council this week despite a crunch meeting with Mr Johnson.

The meeting had been called because members of the advisory body wanted reassurances from the Home Secretary that they could continue in "good conscience" and that their advice would be respected.

Mr Johnson has said a joint code between Government and scientists, proposed by the Royal Society, was being considered by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Government's chief scientific adviser.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6545069/Drug-adviser-sacking-was-humiliation-says-colleague.html

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