The SNP has demanded answers from Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie after a failed attempt to nominate former Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day to a paid position on the board of NHS Lothian.
The nomination was blocked following intervention by Scottish Government Health Secretary Neil Gray, after concerns were raised by SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald and Edinburgh SNP group leader Councillor Simita Kumar.
Cammy Day resigned as leader of the City of Edinburgh Council in 2024 and was later suspended from the Labour Party following accusations that he had sent inappropriate messages to Ukrainian refugees.
He was subsequently readmitted to the Labour Party after police confirmed there was no evidence of criminality, though concerns about his conduct continued to be raised publicly by colleagues.
Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda previously said she did “not welcome” Day’s return to the party, stating that she had been “subjected to a drunken tirade by Councillor Day that actually forced me to leave a Christmas party in tears.”
In correspondence confirming the rejection of the nomination, the Health Secretary highlighted the ethical standards required of those serving in public sector roles.
The SNP is now calling on Jackie Baillie to release all correspondence between herself, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and the City of Edinburgh Council relating to the attempted appointment.
The party claims the public has a right to know how and why Labour sought to secure a paid NHS board role for Cammy Day, and who was involved in advancing the nomination.
Commenting, Gordon MacDonald MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands said:
“This was an utterly disgraceful decision by Scottish Labour.
“The public have a right to know why Scottish Labour pushed for Cammy Day to take this role and Jackie Baillie must come clean on what involvement she and Anas Sarwar had in this matter.
“Cllr Cammy Day should be nowhere near a paid role on our NHS Board and it is beyond the pale that this would have happened without the swift intervention of our Health Secretary.
“All of the Day Documents must be published and all correspondence between Jackie Baillie, Anas Sarwar and the Scottish Labour Council group on this disturbing saga brought to light.
“Our NHS should not be subjected to this type of behaviour from Scottish Labour and it’s time their leadership gave clarity on this sordid affair.”
The SNP has said it will continue pressing for full transparency over the failed nomination and the role played by senior figures within Scottish Labour.
