Scottish Labour received a serious sexual harassment complaint about its Edinburgh council chief almost two years before he was suspended.
In early 2023, a constituent of Cammy Day claimed they received “persistent and unsolicited nude pictures” from him over “the past couple of years”.
Day, former leader of Edinburgh City Council, was suspended earlier this month after the Sunday Mail revealed he had sent sexually explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees on social media.
In the wake of our revelations, Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it was the first he knew of allegations against Day but we have now learned that a detailed complaint was sent to the party’s general secretary 21 months earlier.
Police are investigating a complaint about sexually inappropriate messages, while the council is in talks with Ethical Standards Commission chiefs and another probe is under way over claims Day was acting as an unregistered landlord.
The March 2023 complaint – obtained by the Sunday Mail – was sent to Scottish Labour’s then general secretary, former MSP James Kelly.
It stated: “I am writing to you in relation to the Scottish Labour leader at Edinburgh Council, Cammy Day.
“I am a constituent currently represented by Councillor Day.
“For the past couple of years Councillor Day has intermittently and proactively messaged me on [a] dating application.
“Despite my refusal to respond, he has often been persistent and on numerous occasions sent unsolicited nude pictures that have made me feel deeply uncomfortable.
“The reason why I have now chosen to come forward is that recent media attention on Edinburgh Council’s budget has unfortunately meant that Cammy’s visibility has increased and, with it, so has my own discomfort.
“Having confided in a couple of friends, I have found out I’m not the only one who has experienced this unwanted behaviour.
“I want to make it clear that I care about the mental health of people in my community and I do not want to cause any harm to Councillor Day’s mental health or wellbeing, but the behaviour is completely unacceptable and below the standard I would expect from an elected politician.”
The party asked if the person wished for the complaint to be made “formal”, have an independent investigator appointed and an official statement taken but they declined and said: “The process is not something I wish to put myself through and I imagine it would be harder for individuals in more serious cases. It places the burden on the victim of harassment to revisit events.
“In my particular case, it refers to Cammy’s persistence in sending unsolicited nude pictures, something he has done to many others over a period of years – and somehow he manages to lead one of the largest councils in Scotland.
“It should not be difficult for the Labour Party to validate the claims or to have a conversation with Cammy about his conduct without putting people through such a process.
“If that means that the Labour Party will take no action against a perpetrator of sexual harassment then that’s a decision for the Labour Party.”
The party’s Sexual Harassment team closed the complaint on March 28, 2023.
Sarwar previously said he had no knowledge of complaints made against Day until the Sunday Mail revelations earlier this month that he had been sending Ukrainian refugees sexually explicit messages.
He reiterated this when asked about the March 2023 complaint and said: “Let me be really clear – we have an independent complaints procedure so if a complaint is made to the Labour Party, the complaint does not come to me and the independent group that looks at complaints does not notify me, as leader, until there is the opening of an investigation.
“As soon as evidence was shared with me – as it was by the Sunday Mail earlier this month – of alleged inappropriate behaviour then he was suspended the same day.
“I had no notification about any [previous] complaint.”
Day resigned as Edinburgh council leader on December 9 and last week his former party retained control of the authority, despite having just 10 of 63 councillors.
Liberal Democrat and Tory members backed Labour to retain the status quo, rejecting a rival leadership bid by SNP and Green members but the decision sparked fury from opposition parties.
Green group leader Susan Rae said: “Despite it being clear that individuals in all parties do not have faith in Labour to provide the solutions to the multiple crises we are facing, it seems that party loyalty and paid positions have more sway for Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories than doing their democratic duty to the people who elected them.”
Day’s successor Jane Meagher – who joined the meeting last Thursday from Tanzania where she is currently on holiday – said she had been given “an opportunity to restore stability and to get on with the business of running the city” after what she described as “an extremely difficult and damaging time for the council”.
A City of Edinburgh Council spokeswoman said: “All matters raised with the chief executive and monitoring officer are being progressed through our established processes in consultation with our independent whistleblowing service, Safecall, and, where appropriate, Police Scotland and the Ethical Standards Commissioner.
“Given the ongoing investigations, we can’t comment further at this stage.”
A Labour spokesman 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.”
Police Scotland said: “Enquiries are ongoing.”
Day did not respond to requests for comment.
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