Comments on: Alan Johnson rejects Evan Harris’ claim that he misled MPs over Nutt

By: Pavement Politico

Pavement Politico — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:02:52 +0000

On that Mail article – not forgetting a certain research chemist who ended up doing quite well, of course?! Surely not.

By: fdp100

fdp100 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:40:36 +0000

Pity someone did not say “ONLY THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have the policies on drugs which take account of scientific evidence AND their social implications”. Or perhaps they did and I missed it.

By: David Evershed

David Evershed — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:45 +0000

This will be the first test of the new Speaker Bercow and whether he supports Parliament holding Government ministers to account.

So will Bercow arrange for Alan Johnson to come to Parliament to apologise explain the discrepancies pointed out in the letter by Evan Harris.

By: Iainm

Iainm — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:44:59 +0000

Alan Johnson rejecting factual evidence?

Who’d have thought it…

By: Niklas Smith

Niklas Smith — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:05:27 +0000

FYI, Evan Harris’ letter is here: http://markreckons.blogspot.com/2009/11/evan-harris-accuses-alan-johnson-of.html

Yet another disgraceful performance by Alan Johnson. The ACMD is not “his” advisory committee, but a body set up by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1974 to provide independent, scientific advice on the harm caused by drugs. If Mr Johnson wants to make it into “his” committee he should rename it the ACAAJ: the Advisory Council for Agreeing with Alan Johnson. And if he was unhappy that the presentation would be published why did he let the original talk be publicised on “his” website?

The Guardian says “The home secretary rebutted claims made in a letter from the Lib Dem science spokesman Evan Harris of several apparent factual errors in the statement Johnson made to the Commons about Nutt’s dismissal last week.” He has not rebutted anything! He didn’t even answer most of Dr Harris’ points. I wish he would stop trying to use dishonesty to get himself out of a hole.

By: Andrew Suffield

Andrew Suffield — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:13:21 +0000

I predict that the Mail will continue to publish crass, insane articles.

(Empirical evidence is not from the real world? Somebody buy that guy a dictionary)

By: Jon Harvey

Jon Harvey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:51:36 +0000

The end quote by the way is from the article – it is not mine!!

By: Jon Harvey

Jon Harvey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:50:47 +0000

The danger is that we will get more crass articles like this one:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1224858/Yes-scientists-good-But-country-run-arrogant-gods-certainty-truly-hell-earth.html

Yes, scientists do much good. But a country run by these arrogant gods of certainty would truly be hell on earth