UK - Daily Echo letter - The science of spinning the Government's line

The science of spinning the Government's line
Whether or not one agrees with Dr David Mutt's personal, but informed professional, opinion as to the classification status of Cannabis, it would not be the first time that an accredited expert, seconded to Government, has run foul of the "authorised version" of political policy.
One of the best Labour environment ministers we ever had - Michael Meacher, who's views on nuclear energy and a handful of other issues, diverged from those held by Tony Blair - got the "bunch-of-fives" treatment from his leader. Blair phoned him at 3am saying "Sorry Michael, I'm letting you go."
The team of leading health scientists concluding their long deliberations at the NHS Centre for Reviews and Disseminations at York University in 1999/2000 gave a five point statement to Government which said:
1 Fluoride could not be said to be safe
2 Fluoridation would be unlikely to correct dental health inequalities.
3 Dental fluorosis could not be categorized
merely as a cosmetic condition
4 Lack of good quality studies made results inconclusive
5 More research of a higher standard, free from bias, should be conducted.

The Government's own media release said precisely the opposite on every point.
No prizes offered for guessing whose version was adopted as the "official" line
Who was the health minister in charge at that time? . . . none other than Alan Johnson.
BERNARD J SEWARD, Bristol.