(Image: James Dalgleish)
An Edinburgh councillor has been cleared of breaching confidentiality rules after he forwarded a critical constituent's email to their employer.
Councillor James Dalgleish, the capital’s education convener, had been reported to the Ethical Standards Commissioner after the incident in September 2025.
The Standards Commission for Scotland determined on Wednesday that no breach had been committed as the complainer’s name, job title, and email address were publicly available online.
“The panel agreed that an email between a councillor and a constituent seeking assistance with a personal matter could carry an expectation of confidence,” the Standards Commission said in a statement.
“The panel noted, however, that in this case the email outlined the complainer’s political views and criticisms of elected members concerning a matter of education policy and local political debate. It did not include any request for advice or assistance.”
The email was sent by a constituent to eight different councillors, including Councillor Dalgleish. (Image: Freelancer)
While the panel acknowledged that the complainer was not acting as an employee when she emailed councillors, it noted that her email was sent from her work address.
Furthermore, the complainer’s email “was not marked as confidential and contained no express request that it be treated accordingly”.
The email, which was originally sent to eight councillors, was subsequently forwarded by the complainer to two other councillors.
The Standards Commission said: “The panel considered, in light of the above points and the particular circumstances of this case, that the complainer's email did not carry a sufficient expectation of confidence such that it should reasonably be regarded as being of a confidential or private nature for the purposes of the code.
“As such, the panel concluded that Councillor Dalgleish did not breach the code in forwarding the complainer’s email to her employer.”
Speaking to The Herald on Wednesday afternoon, Councillor Dalgleish said: “I am relieved to be cleared of any wrongdoing by the Standards Commission.
"Now that the investigation is concluded, I am looking forward to getting back to helping my constituents in Leith Walk and carrying out my role as Education Convener for Edinburgh.”
The panel also cleared Councillor Dalgleish of failing to treat the complainer with “courtesy and respect”, or engaging in “bullying and harassment”.
“The panel could not conclude that, regardless of any motivations, Councillor Dalgleish had acted unreasonably in raising his concerns, or that raising them could be termed as vexatious, spurious or malicious in nature,” the Standards Commission said.
“In support of this conclusion, the panel noted that Councillor Dalgleish’s concerns were not dismissed out of hand by the complainer's employer, which instead considered the matters he raised under its internal procedures.”
The Standards Commission has come under fire from the City of Edinburgh Council in recent months.
In mid-September, councillors unanimously approved a motion expressing their lack of confidence in the Ethical Standards Commissioner and the Standards Commission.
Edinburgh Councillors have previously hit out at the Standards Commission. (Image: Gordon Terris)
“Their position is now untenable and they need to recognise that. Their job as an organisation is to uphold the Nolan principles of public life,” SNP councillor Adam Nols-McVey said at the time.
“That is their job and it's a mission they have fallen so irretrievably far from delivering.”
In August, a judicial review found that the Standards Commission acted unlawfully in preventing Glasgow councillor Fiona Higgins from admitting a number of documents as evidence in a misconduct case.
The Standards Commission is appealing the decision at the Court of Session.
Backing the motion, council leader Jane Meagher said: “We recognise that concerns have been expressed across local government regarding the impact of the case on democratic accountability, on freedom of expression and the ability of elected members to scrutinise decisions and represent constituents effectively.
“I know this is something that all of us will share across in this chamber.”
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However, the watchdog went on to issue a robust defence of its governance and procedures.
“The Standards Commission believes that it is possible for all elected councillors to carry out their vital scrutiny role without breaching the Councillor's Code of Conduct … which every councillor commits to upholding when they accept office.”
Commenting on its decision to appeal, the Standards Commission said: “Members of the Commission believe that further clarity is required because we are concerned about the impact it could have on our ability to run fair, proportionate and efficient hearings.
“We are also concerned that the judgement has wider serious implications for other organisations that regulate the conduct of individuals.”