Candidate for top city role withdraws

One of the candidates bidding to become the new chief executive of Edinburgh Council has withdrawn from the selection process, after a confidential list of applicants was leaked to the press.

Council leader Jenny Dawe offered her "sincere apologies" to candidates, and has also instructed outgoing chief executive Tom Aitchison to conduct an immediate inquiry.

"I am appalled at this breach of confidentiality," she said. "We are at an early stage in the selection process and this inaccurate and damaging information reflects badly on the council. Such actions may well cause problems for the candidates and, indeed, one has since withdrawn.

"Contrary to press coverage regarding naming of a short list, the recruitment panel was not due to meet until later this week to draw up the long list."

The list was understood to include Dr Maggie Atkinson, the current Children's Commissioner for England, who sparked controversy when she suggested James Bulger's killers shouldn't have stood trial because they were too young.