A SCOTTISH politician has been accused of making a slur against York, after claiming the city had a major problem with street prostitution.

Scottish National Party member Steve Cardownie, who is deputy leader of Edinburgh City Council, made the comments in his local newspaper in Scotland, but his remarks have sparked a backlash in York.

Andrew Waller, leader of City of York Council, said: I have been in touch with Coun Cardownies office to demand evidence for this statement which is a slur on the city of York. I think he is mixing us up with somewhere else.

Mr Cardownie made the claim while commenting on a debate over licensed saunas in Edinburgh, some of which double as brothels.

He told the newspaper: Edinburgh doesnt have the major problems that other cities have with street prostitution. For me, the city has fewer problems than places like Cardiff or York, which have difficulties with street prostitution, under-age girls working and so on.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York said: Were concerned by these comments and would refute this claim as we havent been made aware of any such problems in the city. The Safer York Partnership works with Visit York and other bodies in the city to ensure that York is one of the safest cities in the UK.

When contacted by The Press, Coun Cardownie said he had been caught on the hop by a reporter from the Edinburgh Evening News and admitted his information may be outdated.

He said: I was racking my brain trying to of think of examples. This could have been as long ago as 12 years as examples of where there may be street prostitution.

I can see my information was outdated. I was probably off the mark maybe even with Cardiff as well.