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The leader of Cambridgeshire CC has quit her post amid the escalating row over the hiring of a new chief executive. Cllr Shona Johnstone stepped down after she admitted making an ‘inappropriate phone call' to the successful candidate for the top job. But she denied she put pressure on him to withdraw from the post. Adding to the embarrassment, the local press in Cambridgeshire has named Durham CC chief executive Mark Lloyd as the candidate in question. Reading Council chief executive Trish Haines and director of children's services at Cambridgeshire CC Gordon Jeyes were also named as the other candidates on the shortlist. Officially the four-strong appointment committee unanimously choose Mr Lloyd for the job – on a salary package reported to be around £200,000 – but it is believed that Cllr Johnstone favoured the internal candidate. She called Mr Lloyd in a bid to discuss her reservations. In a statement, Cllr Johnstone said the row had been ‘blown out of all proportion by some councillors'. ‘I accept that I made one inappropriate phone call but it was driven entirely by my desire to get the best possible candidate to work with me and the council's cabinet to deliver top quality, value for money services for the people of Cambridgeshire. ‘ ‘As in any large organisation, the relationship between the leader or chairman, and the chief executive is very important. If that relationship fails, then it usually means the organisation fails. That concern was my sole motive for making that phone call.' ‘I must emphasise that at no point, did I ask the candidate to withdraw. I accept that on this one occasion I made an error of judgement in contacting the candidate directly. For that reason, and for that reason alone, I am now resigning as council leader.' Cllr Johnstone has been leader of the council since May, and a councillor since 1993. In a statement, Trish Haines confirmed that she did go for the job. ‘I was not successful, but a political row has blown up in Cambridgeshire about the appointments process, and although the row had nothing to do with me, my name has come into the public arena. I have no further comment to make.' Mr Lloyd has refused to comment on the situation, and is currently in Japan. Former Cambridgeshire CC leader Keith Walters has been re-elected as leader after Cllr Johnstone's resignation. His nomination will go before full council on 11 December, but he will act as leader with immediate effect.

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WHITEHALL

Leader quits over top job offer row

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