I’m used to snakes and rats, says Kezia...but who CAN she mean?
Dugdale’s swipe at MSPs as she joins I’m a Celebrity
HER controversial decision to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here will mean a testing time both on the show and when she returns home.
But as she prepared to make her first appearance in the jungle camp tonight former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale was upbeat – saying she is ‘used to dealing with rats and snakes’.
Despite an outcry from her colleagues, opponents and the public, she claimed UK party leader Jeremy Corbyn would be ‘happy’ to see her on the reality TV show and ‘have a good laugh at my expense’.
After escaping an immediate suspension from Labour on Tuesday, she will face party bosses on her return to Scotland.
The Edinburgh and Lothians MSP said yesterday any moves to discipline her would be ‘sad’ – given she has been a loyal campaigner for 15 years. She admitted initially turning down the opportunity to go on the show, fearing it would be the ‘end of my political career’.
But she said that she immediately regretted it and jumped at the chance when
‘No obvious person to ask for permission’
approached a second time – with the number of weeks she was required to be in Australia cut from five to three.
‘I knew that if I tried my best, I would be daft to turn it down,’ she said.
Miss Dugdale also stressed her intention to carry on as an MSP and vowed to stand in the next Holyrood elections.
Though accepting there was ‘shock’ and ‘anger’ at her decision, she said it would be ‘an amazing opportunity to talk to millions of people’.
She rejected claims that taking part is similar to having a second job – which would have broken a key pledge from her manifesto. This stated MSPs should not have a second job while serving as politicians.
Miss Dugdale has donated £2,500 to the Rock Trust, an Edinburgh charity – her earnings as an MSP for the three weeks she is in the jungle.
She has also claimed a ‘portion’ of what she is paid by ITV for going on the show will be donated to charities.
Explaining her decision to swap Holyrood for the outback – alongside celebrities including boxer Amir Khan and Made In Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo – Miss Dugdale said the loss of best friend Gordon Aikman to motor neurone disease in February had taught her to seize every opportunity.
‘He taught me so much about how important it is to live your life well and never let an opportunity go by,’ she said. ‘I’m doing this with that ethos in mind.’
Referring to suggestions she did not seek approval before jetting off, she said ‘there was no obvious person to ask for permission’, as the leadership fight was then still on between Richard Leonard and Anas Sarwar.
Miss Dugdale said she told them she ‘was going abroad for three weeks to work. They were both cool with that’.
Since becoming Scottish Labour leader Mr Leonard has said he is disappointed at her decision.
On the challenges she will face during her time in the jungle camp, Miss Dugdale did admit that she is concerned about ‘creepy crawlies’, saying: ‘I ran upstairs when I saw a spider the other day and I’ve got a big fear of birds.’
She added: ‘I know I am not totally useless but I will scream, shout and then get on with it.’
Last night, Miss Dugdale was introduced as a ‘surprise’ contestant in the closing minutes of the episode. Hosts Ant and Dec said she will start by taking part in the Bush Tucker trial tonight alongside fellow newcomer, comedian Iain Lee, 44.
Meanwhile, video was released yesterday which was recorded prior to Miss Dugdale heading to Australia.
In it she told constituents she accepted her decision to appear on the ITV show would be ‘controversial’, but hoped people would tune in to watch.