MacLaren is accused of witch hunt against campaigner

Published on Tuesday 10 June 2008 10:22

EDUCATION leader Marilyne MacLaren was today accused of a witch hunt by ordering a parent representative to be removed the group considering Edinburgh's school closure programme, after accusing her of leaking details to the Evening News.

Councillor MacLaren could also face a Standards Commission investigation after writing to parent Lynda Flex accusing her of being the source of the stories, claiming she had "incontrovertible proof" that Mrs Flex leaked the information.

The case centres on an Evening News story in April when we revealed the first four schools to face the council's new closure hit list. Mrs Flex – who was not the original source of the story and did not contact the Evening News – has been accused of releasing the names of the four schools – Lismore, Victoria, Westburn and Bonnington primaries – and also phoning them to tell them they were on the hitlist.

Mrs Flex today hit out at the allegations, claiming Cllr MacLaren was simply targeting her because she "asks difficult questions".

She also submitted a freedom of information request to the council demanding the "incontrovertible proof" but received a response saying the council held no such records.

Mrs Flex, who said she would now report Cllr MacLaren to the Standards Commission, said: "As there is no incontrovertible proof but only hearsay, I feel perfectly justified in continuing my membership on the forum.

"She obviously takes these decisions single-handedly with no consultation with anyone else, so how can parents in this city have any faith that we are going to be listened to?"

Other forum members have hit out at not being consulted about the decision to remove Mrs Flex. Cllr Andrew Burns, who is Labour's representative on the forum, said: "The incontrovertible proof has never been shown to any other members of the forum and there was no discussion at the forum about this.

"She (Cllr MacLaren) either needs to come forward with the incontrovertible evidence or reverse this decision and apologise."

Evening News editor, John McLellan, said: "I am satisfied that Mrs Flex was not the original source for our story and did not approach us with any information."

Cllr MacLaren said she was "very grieved" she had to remove Mrs Flex from the forum.

She added: "I made it very clear that anybody who did not adhere to confidentiality couldn't stay on the forum.

"The idea of confidentiality is not to upset unduly the parents and staff in the schools."