Tag: sex pest

CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL LEADER CAMMY DAY RESIGNS

CAMMY DAY STATEMENT:

“I have today resigned as Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council.

“The recent commentary on my personal life is detracting from the important work this Labour-led Council does for the people of Edinburgh.

“It undermines the dedicated efforts of my colleagues and Council officers. That’s why it’s time for me to step aside as Leader.

“It undermines the dedicated efforts of my colleagues and Council officers. That’s why it’s time for me to step aside as Leader.

“I have yet to be contacted by the police but want to reiterate that I will cooperate fully with their ongoing enquiries.

“I am hugely proud of what we’ve achieved for the Capital during my time as leader and truly believe that Edinburgh is a better, fairer city as a result.

“I’m also proud to have led a way of successfully doing politics across divides, finding a way to deliver on our priorities for our people and our city.”

LIB DEM Group leader Kevin Lang commented: “I’m pleased Cllr Day has resigned. The allegations made against him are extremely serious. The police investigation and other processes need to be allowed to run their course.

“For the Council, it’s now important to choose a new Leader who can focus properly on the big issues facing our City. We need to agree a new budget, grapple with a worsening crisis in homelessness, and have a big decision to take next month on the new visitor levy.

“Liberal Democrat councillors will be considering carefully how all of this is best achieved ahead of the next Council meeting and the election of a new Leader.”

Calls for Council leader Cammy Day to resign following ‘serious allegations’

The leader of Edinburgh City Council, Labour’s Cammy Day, is being investigated by police over an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.

The Sunday Mail reported this morning that Forth councillor Day “bombarded Ukrainian refugees” with messages of a sexual nature.

The newspaper alleges he asked them sexually explicit questions, tried to meet them for wine dates and complimented them on their looks.

The Sunday Mail spoke to two Ukrainians who say Mr Day had been messaging them. They said they felt unable to ignore his unsolicited approaches due to his position within the council.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: “All matters raised with the chief executive and monitoring officer have been progressed through our established processes in consultation [with] our independent whistleblowing service, Safecall, and, where appropriate, Police Scotland.”

A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously. They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.”

Labour’s leader in Scotland Anas Sarwar confirmed this morning that Mr Day has been suspended from the party pending the outcome of any investigation, but Mr Sarwar refused to comment further while investigations are ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed: “On Tuesday 22 October, we received a report of inappropriate behaviour. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

Labour is the only the third biggest party on Edinburgh Council but Mr Day has led the local authority since May 2022 with support from the Lib Dems and the Scottish Conservatives. Both of these groups are now calling for his resignation.

Lib-Dem group leader Kevin Lang said this morning: “I have this morning written formally to Cllr Cammy Day to call on him to step down immediately as Leader of Edinburgh Council.

“The Liberal Democrat group has also tabled an emergency motion for Tuesday’s Policy Committee to agree he must now resign.”

Conservative councillor Iain Whyte said last night: “If Cammy Day has been suspended by Labour he can’t have their support to remain as Council Leader.

“He must step aside immediately. The Council as a whole can then decide a way forward.”

The SNP, the largest opposition party in Edinburgh, have also called for Cllr Day’s immediate resignation.

Cllr Simita Kumar, who leads the SNP group, said Mr Day should resign without delay.

She said on Twitter: “This is beyond shocking, I’m almost lost for words. @cllrcammyday needs to resign as Council Leader immediately.”

She later added: “Serious allegations have been made against Council Leader – Councillor Cammy Day.

“I have written to Paul Lawrence, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, to take immediate actions to safeguard the public, protect staff, and offer support to anyone impacted.”

The Scottish Green group have also called for Cammy Day’s ‘immediate resignation’:

Councillor Cammy Day has made no comment but his position is looking increasingly untenable.