Dr Hans-Christian Raabe was sacked just weeks after being appointed to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).

He has reportedly been dismissed over an article he co-wrote in 2005, pointing to a link between homosexuality and paedophilia, which he had not brought to the attention of the Government.

Mr Raabe told the Daily Mail that his dismissal was down to “political correctness”.

“Ultimately this has got more to do with a small number of activists who I appear to have offended than my ability to make a constructive contribution towards the debate on drugs,” he said.

“I don’t think the Home Office will have me back, but I’m concerned about the implications for public debate, so I would consider taking it to court on a point of principle.”

Dr Raabe is a strong supporter of complete abstinence from drugs, in stark contrast to the softer stance of the ACMD, which has previously supported the reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug.

His dismissal from the panel has been criticised by the National Drug Prevention Alliance and former Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris, who said government advisers should be dismissed “purely for holding and expressing entirely lawful views on another subject, no matter how objectionable”.