The mayor of Hackney is set to face a vote of no-confidence after a picture appearing to show him partying with a paedophile ex-councillor was revealed.
Philip Glanville is taking a paid leave of absence from his job leading the borough while the Labour party investigates the circumstances surrounding the photo.
He was suspended by Labour last week when an image of him at a Eurovision event on May 14, 2022 with former Hackney councillor Thomes Dewey emerged.
Dewey had been arrested in a National Crime Agency raid two weeks earlier on April 29 over "sadistic" child sexual abuse images.
He later admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children and received a suspended sentence last month.
Mr Glanville, who lived with Dewey, has insisted he did not know the "full extent" of the allegations against his former housemate.
But Green opposition councillors have said they are "appalled by his conduct" and have tabled a no-confidence motion.
They are also calling for an independent investigation into "who knew what and when".
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the town hall on Wednesday evening to express their anger at the situation in the borough.
Hackney Green leader Zoë Garbett, who put forward the motion, is calling for Mr Glanville to resign,
She said: "Trust and confidence in the mayor has been damaged beyond repair".
She has previously called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Dewey's resignation.
Dewy had won a seat as a Labour councillor in Hackney at the May 2022 local elections.
The town hall said it learned of the arrest on May 13, 2022, he was suspended by Labour three days later and resigned his seat.
If accepted, the no-confidence motion will be debated at a full council meeting on September 27.
