Hooked 20: Nutt sack

Hooked episode 20 is about the current news in the UK regarding the sacking of Professor David Nutt by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Although this is a very UK focused situation it does raise a number of questions about the separation of science from politics and the need for evidence based policy.

We thought long and hard about whether we should cover this situation on Hooked, we intend these podcasts to be as useful to listen to in a years time as they are today. However both Allison and I feel very strongly about this current situation.

You can either download the episode directly or better still you can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes which will automatically get each new episode as it comes out.

If you're not someone who has listened to podcasts before, or if you have never even heard of them then we have an introductory article that explains all here.

Shownotes

Blog from Mark Easton, containing the original letter that Alan Johnson sent to Professor Nutt. Article on the BBC, including a short video of Professor Nutt talking about the resignation of other ACMD members and how the ACMD has been systematically ignored.

And another article, featuring the first of the ACMD to resign in protest over Professor Nutt's sacking, Dr Les King.

Professor David Nutt's presentation 'Estimating Drug Harms: A Risky Business?' that he gave last week at the Centre for Crime and Justice, King's College, London.

Letters in The Guardian, clarification from Mr Johnson and commentary from some sensible people.

Link to the petition to reinstate Professor Nutt. The last date for this is January the 2nd 2010

Student organised rally to support Prof. Nutt on November 7th.

Transcription from the House of Commons discussion regarding the Professor David Nutt situation from 2nd November 2009.

Article from the Times online "Science minister calls on Brown to reverse Johnson's 'Big mistake'"

And finally, a Times article which points out that Professor Nutt absolutely adhered to the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees.