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The RIBA has written to one of its own presidential candidates ordering her to stop making 鈥渄amaging allegations鈥� about the institute.

Kerr Robertson, the RIBA鈥檚 honorary secretary, wrote a 鈥渃ease and desist鈥� letter to Elsie Owusu after she suggested the chief executive, Alan Vallance, earns six times the average architect鈥檚 salary.

This amounted, he said, to a 鈥渇lagrant breach of confidentiality, is unsubstantiated and is damaging to RIBA and its chief executive officer. In particular, details of the chief executive oOfficer鈥檚 salary are business sensitive and personal to him鈥�.

Owusu said she made the remark at a presidential hustings in Leeds last week after questions about remuneration and the sale of RIBA Enterprises. The average architect鈥檚 salary is around 拢40,000.

Robertson accused Owusu of breaching the guidelines for RIBA presidential elections 鈥渋n a serious and repeated fashion鈥�. He listed some examples of what he called her unsubstantiated allegations, including her 2015 .

He added: 鈥淭hese public statements are very damaging to RIBA鈥檚 reputation.

鈥淭his is all the more serious as you are a trustee of RIBA, owing fiduciary duty of care to the organisation whose interests you are expected to preserve and promote.

鈥淎s Honorary Secretary, it is my role to preserve the governance and charitable function of RIBA. Your recent media activity is promoting your personal interests, running for Presidency of the RIBA, over and in breach of the duty of care and fiduciary standards of service you owe the organisation.

鈥淚 am therefore obliged to ask that you cease and desist from making further, damaging public statements about the RIBA, whether in the press, at the Hustings, on social media or any other public forum. As Honorary Secretary I will take the necessary measures to protect the reputation and standing of our professional body, for RIBA, its Council and all of its members.

鈥淚 would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with your personally and I know that our President and Chief Executive would join me in entreating you to work with RIBA and not against its best interests.鈥�

Owusu wrote back to him, copying in the press and some of her supporters: 鈥淚 merely quote a tweet from Prof Michael Stacey which stands unchallenged. Members who pay their subscriptions have a right to know how their money is spent and I will not be silenced. You will receive a formal response in due course.鈥�

She described the cease and desist letter 鈥� which can be a precursor to legal action 鈥� as a 鈥渂lue frightener鈥� and said she was intimidated by it but reiterated her refusal to be silenced.

鈥淭his letter will have been pored over by a lawyer which means members鈥� subs are going into this kind of caper,鈥� she told 好色先生TV鈥檚 sister title, BD.

The final hustings is in London tonight (2 July) at 76 Portland Place. The other candidates are Alan Jones and Phil Allsopp.

The RIBA has been contacted for comment.