Readers have their say on Kezia’s jungle jaunt
SCOTTISH Labour’s new leader has said he does not think Kezia Dugdale’s appearance on I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! is “a good way of getting across the message of socialism on television”.
Richard Leonard has previously expressed his disappointment at the former Scottish Labour leader’s decision to appear on the reality TV show.
The party has said she will not be suspended over her decision to take “an unauthorised leave of absence’’ to head to the Australian jungle, but will be interviewed by party chiefs once she has returned.
Ms Dugdale has said the ITV show seemed like an “amazing opportunity to talk to millions of people about the Labour Party, its values and how it is different”.
However Mr Leonard said: “I realise that it’s a very popular programme, which is seen by millions of people, I think it’s got the highest viewer ratings over the course of the last week, I’m not down playing the reach that the programme has, I’m not sure the circumstances in which it presents politicians is the one that certainly I would choose, and I’m not sure it’s a good way of getting across the message of socialism on television.”
Opinion on the streets of Glasgow was divided.
Politics student David Walton, 21, f rom Cambuslang said he was looking forward to seeing her on TV.
“It doesn’t bother me one bit,” he said. “I’ve always thought she was a really nice person and there’s been a bit of a song and dance about it. She always seemed really nice when she’s on TV.”
Retired Church Minister John McNabb, 74, from Dennistoun believes that her success as Scottish Labour leader has entitled her to some time off
“She was an excellent leader of the Labour party and I hope she does well in the jungle programme,” he said.
However, retiree Helen Mulligan, 74, from Dennistoun, thought that Ms Dugdale was wasting her and her constituents’ time by heading into the jungle.
She said: “I think she should have better things to do with her time, she’s an MSP. I’m sure there are more important things she can be doing.”
Museum worker Connor Gordon, 22, from Ballieston, agreed.
“To be honest with you I wasn’t very happy to see that Kezia Dugdale was going into the jungle,” he said. “She’s evidently an elected government official for four years, or five years however long the parliament is, so I’m very disappointed she’s took it upon herself to take a few weeks out while everyone else there is working hard.”
Trainee Accountant Alan Ironside, 24, from Glasgow Cross, added: “To be honest I think she should be able to do what she wants in that respect, I mean once in a while going off, what’s wrong with that?”