FORMER Swindon mayor Stan Pajak brought his office as a councillor into disrepute by claiming a priest supported the Liberal Democrats.

That is the finding of the Standards Board for England, which regulates councillors' behaviour. But the board is not taking any further action.

The claim appeared in campaign material published by Coun Pajak, who represents Eastcott, in the run-up to last May's local elections.

Focus, a Liberal Democrat publication, featured a photograph of candidate Michael Dickinson, who went on to be elected Lib Dem councillor for Central ward, standing next to St Luke's parish priest, Father Leslie Pinfield.

The caption accompanying the photo read: "I'm backing Michael," with Fr Pinfield quoted as saying he was impressed by the work of the candidate in cleaning up the area.

But Les Horn, chairman of Broad Street Community Council, was so amazed by the comments that he wrote to Fr Pinfield. Fr Pinfield's reply read: "I very much regret the appearance of my photograph in the Lib Dem circular suggesting I was encouraging people to support the candidate.

"Anyone at St Luke's will tell you that I have never used the pulpit to preach politics and I have no intention of doing do."

Mr Horn filed a complaint against Coun Pajak, who was election agent for Coun Dickinson and responsible for the publication of the leaflet. He did not write it.

The ethical standards officer at the Standards Board for England has taken almost a year to deliver its judgement, but a statement posted on its website this week said: "Coun Pajak brought his office or authority into disrepute by publishing a leaflet that mis- represented the priest's position. However, the ethical standards officer noted that Coun Pajak was not the author of the leaflet, and had been told by one of his colleagues that the priest had given his support to the party. In these circumstances, the Ethical Standards Officer found that no action needs to be taken."

The Labour group has called on Coun Dickinson to resign. Coun Dickinson refused to comment. Coun Pajak told the Advertiser the leaflet had been an honest mistake, and described talk of resignations as 'silly'.

Andy Tate