Cammy Day, the former leader of Edinburgh City Council and a prominent member of the Labour Party, has faced serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour while in office. The controversy centres around claims made by one of his constituents regarding alleged persistent sexual messaging on dating platforms, particularly Grindr.

Day’s political career took a significant turn when he resigned from his position as the head of Edinburgh’s local authority in December 2023, following media reports about his communications with Ukrainian refugees. The police commenced an investigation into these allegations but stated that “no criminality has been established” as of earlier this month.

Despite this conclusion, Day asserted that the allegations against him are part of a politically motivated conspiracy to ruin his reputation, specifically implicating the Scottish National Party (SNP). He described the situation as a coordinated attack, alleging that sensitive information about him was leaked to the media and authorities simultaneously, suggesting a systematic effort to undermine him.

However, the constituent who lodged complaints against Day expressed disappointment in his response. Speaking to the Sunday Mail, the individual, who chose to remain anonymous, said, “It has been frustrating to read that he is claiming it is a political smear.” He clarified that his complaint was submitted to the Labour Party in 2023, long before the allegations gained media attention. The individual, who has a background in financial services and is not involved in politics, described Day’s behaviour as “completely inappropriate.”

The complainant recounted experiences where Day allegedly sent multiple messages and even pictures via Grindr, persistently trying to engage him despite being blocked. He stated that these interactions made him uncomfortable and persisted even in public spaces, such as when he encountered Day at a polling station last year.

The Labour Party’s handling of the initial complaint has also come under scrutiny. The man articulated his frustration with the party’s procedures, saying, “I told them I didn’t want to go to the police, I didn’t want to speak to the media but I wanted them to quietly deal with the issue.” He felt that the process implemented for his complaint was lengthy and ineffective, especially when Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed ignorance of prior complaints regarding Day.

In addition to the 2023 complaint, two whistleblowing disclosures about Day were raised to former council chief executive Andrew Kerr, one in December 2023 and the other the following October. In light of these developments, Edinburgh City Council has initiated an independent review of its handling of past complaints, including a potential complaint dating back to 2006, prior to Day’s election as councillor.

Moreover, the Ethical Standards Commission is reportedly conducting an inquiry related to Day, although details remain sparse.

The Labour Party has stated that it takes all complaints seriously, indicating that they are investigated in accordance with established rules and protocols, while refraining from commenting further whilst investigations are ongoing. Cammy Day did not respond to requests for comment from the Sunday Mail.

Source: Noah Wire Services