Edinburgh former council leader Cammy Day appointed as baillie despite objections
Claims appointment could lead to ‘reputational damage’
Former council leader Cammy Day - who was forced to quit two years ago amid claims of inappropriate behaviour - has been appointed as a baillie to represent the Lord Provost at official events, despite objections from opposition parties.
SNP and Green councillors voted against the appointment, citing “issues raised previously” and warning of “reputational damage”.
But council leader Jane Meagher accused them of “persecution” and called it “disgusting”.
Cllr Day resigned as council leader and was suspended from the Labour party in December 2024 after newspaper reports alleged he had “bombarded” Ukrainian refugees with unsolicited sexual messages.
But a police investigation found "no evidence of criminality", a party probe cleared him and he was readmitted to the Labour group in June 2025.
At Thursday’s full council meeting, a list of appointments were due to be approved, including replacing Labour councillor Conor Savage with Cllr Day as a baillie.
Green councillor Alys Mumford said it was not conventional for parties to oppose appointments put forward by each other, but said her group could not support Cllr Day’s appointment.
She said: “The position of baillie is often the face of the council, appearing at civil ceremonies representing the Lord Provost when he is unavailable, and crucially for us presiding at citizenship ceremonies.”
She said that undertaking such duties was a privilege and could also involve interaction with potentially vulnerable people.
“Given the reputational damage that could be caused by this appointment and the message it could send about our values as a council, we feel we have no alternative but to object.”
SNP councillor Stuart Dobbin said baillies were an important part of the civic function of the council. “Considering the concerns around issues raised previously, we cannot support this appointment which would see a baillie take on official roles at ceremonies, including those with Ukrainian refugees in our city and other vulnerable groups.”
But Labour council leader Jane Meagher criticised the SNP and Greens for continuing “spiteful attacks”.
She said: “This councillor has been subject to more than one investigation and it is entirely reprehensible of members in this chamber to act as judge and jury in relation to an individual.
“It is reprehensible, and quite frankly I find it disgusting, to continue that kind of persecution of an individual.
“Every single one of us elected in this chamber represents the council; every single one of us is public-facing and every single one of us has the duty and obligation to behave in a way that is appropriate to that.
“And I’m confident that Councillor Day would carry out baillie duties in an exemplary way.”
The council approved Cllr Day’s appointment by 33 votes to 25.
Cllr Day has represented Forth ward on the council since winning a by-election in 2008. He served as deputy leader of the council throughout the SNP-Labour coalition administration between 2017 and 2022.
And he became council leader following the 2022 local elections after Lib Dem and Conservative councillors helped vote Labour into power as a minority administration.
Earlier this year, the then Health Secretary Neil Gray stepped in to block Cllr Day’s appointment by the council to the board of NHS Lothian. A Scottish Government spokesman said it had been concluded that proceeding with the appointment would not best support the objective that NHS Boards “operate with integrity and command public confidence”.
Cllr Day described Mr Gray’s veto as “just the latest instalment in the SNP’s smear campaign”.