British scientists seek more respect

LONDON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A group of British scientists is asking the government to respect the independence of scientific advisers and protect them from political interference.

British politicians should not use disagreement over government policy as a reason to criticize or dismiss scientists, said the scientists' statement, released Thursday after the recent firing of government drugs adviser David McNutt by Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The scientists' statement asks the government to ensure academic freedom and independence for scientific advisers and to respectfully consider their counsel, the BBC reported Friday.

The proposed set of principles would let advisers speak publicly about their work and let expert committees have independent press officers, said Colin Blakemore, a former chief executive of Britain's Medical Research Council.

"The priority now must be to rebuild the confidence of the scientific community in the way the government, and indeed the opposition parties, treat scientific advice and those who provide it," Blakemore said.