MacLaren leak inquiry: 'She must face the consequences of her actions'

IT was clear from the start that city education leader Marilyne MacLaren had overstepped the mark when she removed parents' representative Lynda Flex from the forum examining school closures, but the independent report into her conduct could not be more damning.

The inquiry's withering conclusion is that not only did she exceed her powers, but demonstrated a clear lack of judgement and fairness and in so doing failed to meet the standards expected of public office.

The findings by a former senior official – leaked today to the Evening News – vindicate Mrs Flex, who has always denied accusations she was the source of sensitive information leaked to the Evening News. But they also add considerable weight to her complaint to the Standards Commission that Councillor MacLaren breached the Councillors' Code.

Cllr MacLaren arrogantly dismissed Mrs Flex from the forum claiming she had "incontrovertible proof" that she was the source when the truth was she had no such thing.

Now Cllr MacLaren has very little choice other than to admit she acted in error and apologise. By doing so there is a fair chance the usually meek Standards Commission will regard the matter as closed, but to dig her heels in will give the Commission little choice but to find against her.

City leader Jenny Dawe would do well to have a quiet word to ensure the apology is forthcoming if she wants to avoid being forced into a reshuffle she could well do without.

Sorry will undoubtedly be the hardest word to say for someone who has spent most of her time on the council criticising others, but such a humiliating experience is little more than she deserves.

She should never have appointed herself judge and jury over Mrs Flex and at the very least she should have had the sense to discuss her intended actions with other members of the forum and laid her "evidence" before them. It can only be presumed that her failure to do so was because she knew very well such proof did not exist but thought she could get away with it.

In so doing she underestimated the tenacity of a seasoned community campaigner like Mrs Flex, who did not simply walk away with her tail between her legs and, if she actually thought about it, she also gambled wrongly that this newspaper would not defend its position.

It is not the first time Cllr MacLaren has made unfounded accusations and those in elected positions need to demonstrate far better judgement than she has done on this occasion.

She has no-one to blame other than herself and by promoting herself from forum leader to dictator she must face the consequences of her illiberal and undemocratic actions.