A review is underway to see how Labour councillor David Ross – Fife Council Leader – handled complaints made about David Graham, who was jailed last year for sex offences involving a teenage girl.
Complaints to Fife Council Leader
In 2017, while David Graham was a Labour councillor, complaints were made to Fife Council Leader Cllr David Ross by staff about Graham’s behaviour. Ross has said previously that the complaints, by two female staff members, were “not sexual” but rather about time Graham spent in council offices – distracting staff and contacting said staff members out of work hours.
Graham’s arrest and conviction
Five years later, in 2023, Graham was arrested and charged with child sex offences involving a girl between the ages 13 and 15. A Facebook group Red Rose – known for exposing sexual predators and domestic violence perpetrators – organised a protest outside Graham’s residence, where police had to be called and Graham removed from the premises. In 2025 Graham was convicted of the offences and jailed.
Motion of no confidence
After the revelation that there had been complaints made about David Graham’s behaviour years prior to the offences, a motion from Fife SNP leader Craig Walker called for Cllr Ross to be removed immediately from his position, which was debated in September 2025. Cllr Ross has said the staff didn’t want to make a complaint and he respected their confidentiality, agreeing it should be dealt with informally with Ross speaking to Graham himself.
Surviving the vote, and independent review
Surviving the vote, Cllr Ross accused the SNP of “dirty politics”. SNP leader Cllr Walker said Ross had put “political management above staff and public safety”. Fife Council Cabinet Committee agreed to an independent review.
The independent review is being carried out by Brodies LLP, who have at many times been involved in cases with and against Fife Council.
After reaching out to Fife Council asking who decided that Brodies LLP would do the independent review and how Cllr David Ross felt about the review, they replied with this statement:
“Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee agreed to an independent review in October 2025: Agenda and Papers – Cabinet Committee of 9 October 2025 (item 7).
“This review is currently underway, and any outcomes and recommendations will be discussed at a future meeting of the Cabinet Committee.”
The review will also see if procedures and policies within Fife Council were sufficient, with options for strengthening safeguards and complaint handling to ensure protection.
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