The sacking of Professor David Nutt over his comments on cannabis is a prime example of why Labour, and Gordon Brown specifically, do not have it in them to win the General Election. The political instincts are completely absent.
For a start, had anyone heard of Professor David Nutt before yesterday? I am not disparaging the man at all but David gave an interview on the BBC on Thursday and it was, as far as I could tell, not picked up by the mainstream media in a significant way. There was no danger, no drama for Labour and then they created plenty by sacking the man for apparently seeking "a change in (drugs) policy".
Professor Nutt is surely considered an expert in the field and his views should be taken onboard. That is what he was there to do as a Government adviser. I can certainly understand the man's frustration if he knows that the Prime Minister's assertions that cannabis is lethal is false but for me he has conducted himself admirably throughout the whole affair. David was asked this morning what he would say to Gordon Brown if he met him today and there was no spitting of the dummy, he simply said that Brown should listen to the advice of the experts and place more trust in them. Absolutely fair comment anyone would agree.
So how does it look for a Home Secretary to sack an adviser simply because he doesn't agree with their opinion? Indeed, even calling it an 'opinion' is dubious as his position is surely based on scientific evidence and could be considered as facts.
And at the end of the day, we've surely all seen the West Wing episode where President Bartlett sacks the Surgeon General for suggesting legalisation of marijuana should be considered. Bartlett of course has to back down in the end as Aaron Sorkin articulately explains through his script why telling truth to power is an important factor for any Government, particularly in relation to science.
So another disappointing episode from an increasingly disappointing administration.
SNP Tax
1 minute ago
7 comments:
What's more worrying, this si yet more evidence of Brown's 'moral compass', the same one that Blair carries around with him incase he get's lost in the desert.
The truth is that Brown was never fit to lead, his colleagues knew it and his political enemies know it.
The man has been a disaster and his 'Victorian dad' approach to this issue has simply demonstrated how ill at ease he is with modern Britain.
Brown's Britain passed a long time ago, he peddles a mythology of multi-cultural Britain that simple does not deal with the realties for many of us.
I tend to side with the Govt on this. He can't be an advisor and at the same time criticise Govt policy. I think people need to be clear that the drug the Govt are concerned about is not good old fashioned hash, which never hurt a fly. It is skunk -which really does induce psychosis and paranoia in regular users. They can't pretend that smoking skunk is OK when the results of regular use are showing up in psychiatric wards all the time.
Observer, why can't he be an adviser and criticise Gov't policy?
If all an adviser does is smooth over politicians' egos and tell them they are making the right calls when they aren't really then the purpose is defeated.
Surely if the Government has enough confidence in their policies, even if they are at odds with the scientists, then they should be able to back it up without sacking people.
I suppose it depends how off-message the expert/adviser/report is.
Stray too far from the expected line and the expert is dumped/sidelined or the report/advice ignored.
I think it depends Jeff on where he gives that advice.
I wouldn't suggest doing it on the radio.
That's a very fair point Observer, but then it also patronises us all slightly to suggest that we can't handle the opinions of the experts when it contradicts the Government policy.
We're all grown ups and should be all allowed to make our own decision.
The story smacks of dumbing down the standard of debate and typical control freakery from the Government which is why I take exception.
But you're right, if an adviser is pushing his own agenda then chances are he has to go. I don't know for sure if that was or wasn't the case for Prof Nutt so fair enough, I can see why you could take the Gov't's side.
It could be said of the government though why hire advisors when you don't follow their advice? Sames a bit of a waste of money to me.
Besides we could always ask Professor Nutt to see why he felt so compelled to speak out, he must have known it would end in tears in a very public and humiliating fashion.
http://debateisfree.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment