A SENIOR Scottish Labour councillor has been arrested and charged in relation to alleged child grooming offences.
Anas Sarwar’s party has suspended David Graham, a senior figure on Fife Council who sat on the cabinet, while the police probe is ongoing.
Graham, 41, is a councillor for Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss villages and Fife’s representative at Cosla.
He is also appointed as a non-executive director on the board of NHS Fife.
Fife Council said Graham had stood down from his council appointments for the time being.
The Labour councillor is due to appear in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court “at a later date”, police said.
Reports in the Scottish Sun say Graham’s arrest last week led to numerous bodies, including NHS Fife, Fife Council, and Labour, being made aware through a disclosure process.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to grooming offences following an investigation in Fife.
“He has been released on an undertaking to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court at a later date.
“Further enquiries are ongoing.”
Lindsay Thomson, Fife Council's head of legal services, said: "We are aware of an ongoing Police Scotland investigation involving a Fife councillor.
"As this is a live case we cannot comment further on the individual circumstances."
Fife Council is controlled by a minority Labour administration. The SNP were the largest group after the 2022 local elections, but Unionist councillors from the Conservatives and LibDems united to put Labour into power.
Graham was elected as a councillor in 2012. He formerly worked as a communications officer for Labour MSP Claire Baker.
