Showdown on Labour decision to cut Dugdale’s fighting fund

SCOTTISH Labour leader Richard Leonard faces a showdown with MSPs today after the party stopped funding Kezia Dugdale’s legal fight against a pro-independence blogger.

Miss Dugdale told how she was left feeling ‘crushed’ after finding out she may have to finance the battle herself, with colleagues urging Labour bosses to reinstate financial support.

It is understood MSPs last week agreed to publish a statement calling on General Secretary Jennie Formby to reverse her decision, and continue providing funds for Miss Dugdale.

But this was not included in a release from Scottish Labour – after it was shown to Mr Leonard, pictured, on his return from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

He is set to face a hostile reception when he meets the Holyrood group today.

Former leader Miss Dugdale is being sued for £25,000 by blogger Stuart Campbell after she claimed he had made homophobic comments about Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

The Labour Party initially pledged to support her but after spending £100,000, Miss Formby has stopped the funding.

Party officials voiced outrage at the decision, with members across Scotland calling on Jeremy Corbyn to step in.

However, Miss Dugdale said the Labour leader failed to reply to messages in which she pleaded for his help.

Last week, she said: ‘I twice tried to contact Jeremy Corbyn – someone I used to be in regular contact with, we’d regularly exchange texts – I know he’s read those messages but he has yet to respond.’

Mr Leonard has said that despite having sympathy for Miss Dugdale the funding will not be reinstated.

Sources said that he is likely to face an angry meeting today, after ‘losing the support of the group quite drastically’.