The Scoop

Lambeth Council leader broke standards rules

Darryl Chamberlain | Wednesday 16 February, 2011 15:08

Lambeth Council’s leader has escaped punishment after being found guilty of breaking standards rules by using his blog to attack a Labour councillor who defected to the Tories.

Steve Reed used his personal site to lay into Betty Evans-Jacas, who switched sides in October 2009, making allegations involving her finances.

Lambeth’s standards committee ruled that Reed was found to have breached the council’s code of conduct for disclosing the personal financial affairs of Evans-Jacas, who was behind on her council tax when the Labour leader made his claims.

But he escaped sanction because he had written a personal letter of apology to his former colleague, who is no longer a councillor.

The committee also dismissed charges that Reed had failed to treat Evans-Jacas with respect, adding his views on her “were reasonably held opinion”.

Lambeth councillors should be reminded to take more care when using social networking tools, the committee added.

They may need some reminding, though, in a borough where bitter attacks between political rivals are commonplace.

Last year it was ruled Labour councillor Ed Davie should receive training in using new media for suggesting council critic and former Stockwell blogger Jason Cobb, who now lives in Essex, was moving to “a whites-only Olde English village” in a comment on Cobb’s blog.

Last week, Reed was involved in a public row with one of his fellow Labour councillors over cutbacks. As revealed by The Scoop, Kingsley Abrams faces a party disciplinary hearing next week following the clash with the leader and other senior members.

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