The leader of one of Scotland’s largest local authorities was last night facing growing calls to resign after Labour suspended him amid a police probe into alleged sexual misconduct.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the situation involving City of Edinburgh Council’s Cammy Day, who reportedly sent Ukrainian refugees explicit messages, was ‘deeply distressing’.
The Holyrood politician insisted his party acted ‘immediately’ after being told of the claims on Saturday.
Mr Day has run a minority administration in Edinburgh since 2022 thanks to Tory and Liberal Democrat support.
But both parties yesterday called for him to stand down as leader.
It followed the Sunday Mail reporting claims by two refugees who came to Edinburgh after fleeing the war in Ukraine that they were pestered by messages from Councillor Day.
One said they received sexually explicit messages via a dating app.
‘I was surprised that a person of such a high position was interested in me, and then I saw him a couple of times at pro-Ukrainian events,’ they said.
‘He found and subscribed to me on social media and started liking my stories intensively, sending kissing emojis, especially when I posted gym and pool photos. Every time he wrote to me in the dating app I felt under pressure, afraid to say no or say something wrong.
‘I tried to ignore all his hints about sex or meeting up because I was afraid of his influence and just tried to be polite to avoid any conflict.’
Another told the paper they had received multiple messages through social media and dating sites.
They said: ‘It was too much and I didn’t know how to say I didn’t want him to contact me any more because of his position. It is a bit strange for a council leader to be doing it.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We received a report of inappropriate behaviour. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.’
The force confirmed a report was made about Mr Day earlier this year but no criminality was established.
Lothian Tory MSP Sue Webber said: ‘Cammy Day should step down as leader of the council while these allegations are investigated. There is surely no way he can command the support of the local Labour group, and will be unable to carry out the critical and important role as leader of the council.’
Lib Dem council group leader Kevin Lang urged Mr Day to resign ‘for the sake of the council and the City of Edinburgh’. He said it was ‘clearly untenable’ for him to remain leader given the ‘exceptionally serious’ allegations.
In a letter to Mr Day, he wrote: ‘It is vital the council has a leader who is able to focus properly on important matters and someone who commands the confidence of a majority of members of the council. It is obvious this cannot continue to be you.’
SNP group leader Simita Kumar said Mr Day must resign as leader ‘immediately’ and asked officials to suspend his council access.
On BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Mr Sarwar said the situation was ‘deeply distressing’.
Asked if Mr Day should resign, he said: ‘There will now be a police process. I imagine there will probably be a council process. We took immediate action. The people that matter are… the ones that have allegedly been the victims of these messages.’
Scottish Labour added: ‘The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated and any appropriate action is taken.’