Science Museum director sacked after 'judgment error' in accounts

The Science Museum has sacked its director after five months in the job over a conflict of interest in her business dealings.

Molly Jackson, director of the Science Museum's umbrella organisation the National Museum of Science and Industry, left yesterday after a review found she had made a "serious error of judgment in handling a perceived conflict of interest".

The museum said she had made no financial gain from the dealings. But the error meant she had "failed to discharge the specific responsibilities she had as accounting officer" and should be dismissed.

Ms Jackson had worked at the museum for about seven years before being named director in April - a decision that was still awaiting formal ratification from Gordon Brown when the investigation began. Andrew Scott, who has been director of the National Railway Museum, another part of the National Museum of Science and Industry empire, since 1994, has been named acting director.

Lord Waldegrave, chairman of the museum, said: "This is a great shame because until this, Molly Jackson had done a very good job. However, in allowing a perceived conflict of interest to develop, she clearly fell short of the high standards expected of her as accounting officer and under our own code of conduct."

The inquiry was carried out by an internal audit commission. She is understood to have accepted the sacking and waived the right to a review.

Ms Jackson took over from Professor Martin Earwicker who left after three years to become vice-chancellor of London South Bank University.

Chris Rapley remains director of the Science Museum.