Pressure on Edinburgh council leader Cammy Day to quit amid allegations of ‘sexual messages to Ukrainian refugees’ | UK News

The leader of the City of Edinburgh Council is facing calls to quit amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards Ukrainian refugees.

Cammy Day is being investigated by Police Scotland following a complaint and has been administratively suspended by Scottish Labour pending the outcome of a probe.

Mr Day, who has led the local authority since May 2022, is being urged to step down in the meantime.

The councillor was contacted for comment.

The Sunday Mail spoke to two Ukrainian refugees who said they received messages from Mr Day via social media and dating sites.

The councillor was said to have asked their sexual preferences, tried to meet up for dates, and sent lots of flirty emojis in reaction to their online posts.

One of the Ukrainians, who fled the Russian invasion in 2022, told the newspaper they felt “under pressure” to respond given Mr Day’s status and were “afraid of his influence”.

It is understood police are examining a report that was made to the council’s whistleblowing service.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Tuesday 22 October 2024, we received a report of inappropriate behaviour.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the allegations as “deeply distressing” and said his party took “immediate action” when it became aware of the claims on Saturday.

A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously.

“They are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate action is taken.”

Mr Day, who appears to have deleted his X account, is the councillor for Edinburgh’s Forth ward and is one of his party’s most prominent local authority leaders.

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Councillor Simita Kumar, who leads the SNP group, branded the allegations against Mr Day “beyond shocking” and called for him to resign “immediately”.

She has since written to the local authority’s chief executive, Paul Lawrence, urging him to “suspend all council access and privileges for Councillor Day effective immediately” while the allegations are “fully investigated”.

The Scottish Conservatives are also calling for Mr Day to step aside while investigations are under way.

Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, 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.”