Scottish Labour had received a serious sexual harassment complaint about Cammy Day, the former leader of Edinburgh City Council, almost two years before he was suspended. In early 2023, a constituent came forward alleging that Day had sent them “persistent and unsolicited nude pictures” over a period of time. This complaint emerged following Day’s recent suspension after it was revealed that he had sent sexually explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees on social media. Labour leader Anas Sarwar stated that he had no prior knowledge of any allegations against Day until the recent revelations. However, it has now come to light that a detailed complaint had been sent to the party’s general secretary 21 months earlier.
The complaint, dated March 2023, was addressed to the then general secretary of Scottish Labour, James Kelly. It detailed the constituent’s discomfort with Day’s continuous and unwanted advances, including sending unsolicited nude images through a dating application. Despite declining to pursue a formal complaint process, the constituent expressed concern over Day’s behaviour and urged the Labour Party to address it appropriately. The party’s Sexual Harassment team eventually closed the complaint in March 2023.
Following the revelations and subsequent suspension, Day resigned as Edinburgh council leader, with Jane Meagher taking over the leadership. Despite the turmoil surrounding Day, Labour managed to retain control of the council. Meagher acknowledged the challenges faced by the council and aims to restore stability and focus on governing the city. Police Scotland confirmed ongoing enquiries into the matter, while the City of Edinburgh Council mentioned that they were following established processes in addressing the complaints.
In response to the situation, a Labour spokesperson emphasised the party’s commitment to taking all complaints seriously and conducting thorough investigations in line with their procedures. Anas Sarwar reiterated that he was unaware of any complaints until the recent revelations came to light. The article also highlighted the reactions from various political leaders and the efforts to ensure accountability and transparency in addressing the allegations against Day.