Moves to reinstate controversial councillor Lezley Marion Cameron as council vice finance chief delayed amid claims of 'silly political point scoring'

Moves to reinstate controversial councillor Lezley Marion Cameron as council vice finance chief have been delayed amid claims of 'silly political point scoring'

Cllr Cameron resigned the role of vice convenor of the capital's finance committee in October last year after it emerged that she had expensed £1,500 in taxi journeys to the council between 2017 – 2019.

Taxpayers footed the bill for 80 separate trips in the space of a year, including more than 50 to or from her home address.

Ms Cameron was due to stand as the minority Labour-SNP coalition's nomination for the post at a full council meeting today. However, due to what Labour described as "silly political point scoring by the Conservatives", Ms Cameron will instead run for the role in August

In order for Ms Cameron to be have elected Vice Finance Convener she would have needed to receive a majority of votes against an opposition nominee or to have defeated an expected opposition motion to delay the vote all together.

Deputy Leader of the council, Labour Cllr Cammy Day, alleges that an orchestrated campaign by the Conservatives to bring all the opposition parties together would have seen Ms Cameron's chances quashed.

Ms Cameron resigned last year after it emerged she had claimed almost £1,500 on taxis in two years including two trips to the cinema, the Vue at the Onmi Centre and Cineworld at Fountainbridge.

She also charged taxpayers for a round trip to the Barrellhouse Bar and Grill on London Road and to a political Labour meeting.

Cllr Cameron says that she has paid back the cost of all personal taxi journeys, which she maintains amounted to two trips totalling £35 in fares.

Speaking yesterday of her potential election to the role of Vice Finance Convener, Cameron said: “The reason I’m suited to this role is because I consistently speak up for Edinburgh, my constituents and my ward. I was the economic convener in 1999 so I have a lot of experience. But no matter my role, it’s always about wanting what’s in the best interest of the people I represent.

“I’ve got good relationships with sectors across the city and I will speak up loud and clear for all their needs and wants.”

Depute Leader of Edinburgh Council, Cammy Day, said: "Because of silly political point scoring by the Conservatives, we've decided not to proceed with Lezley's nomination this month, but we will be making a proposal to the council to elect her as Vice Finance Convener next month.

"Lezley has been demoted from the post for around eight months now and I think in fairness ,and if we're being genuine, there were no issues around her capabilities to do the Vice Finance Convener role."

Conservative Group Chairman, Cllr Jason Rust, said: "It is for the Labour/SNP Administration to justify any appointments it makes, but it does seem very strange that they suddenly retreated from this appointment having publicised it only yesterday.

"With such a key position at a time of financial emergency it is concerning that there is this muddle at the heart of the Administration and we await to see the next developments."

Green councillor Gavin Corbett said: “The council’s budget is under more pressure than at any time since I became a councillor. So having credible leadership on finance matters is absolutely critical at this time.

“Normally, opposition groups would accept the right of the Coalition to appoint its own members to senior positions. However, on this occasion we were concerned that the credibility test had not been passed and made clear that, at least on this occasion we could not support the appointment. I’d urge the Coalition to think again.”