The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dugdale’s jungle trip did not get party permission
Former leader fails to get Labour’s blessing but gets backing from her father amid bully claims
Kezia Dugdale did not have the permission of party bosses to appear on I’m A Celebrity, the new Scottish Labour leader says.
The former head of Labour in Scotland is to be parachuted into the jungle camp of the ITV show in the coming days.
The First Minister entered the fray by expressing her bafflement at the rogue MSP’s decision to take part in the TV contest.
Richard Leonard, who won the leadership contest on Saturday, said his predecessor sought approval from Labour leaders before heading to Australia, where the show hosted by Ant and Dec is filmed.
However, he added his understanding was that the party had not agreed to it.
Mr Leonard, who is under pressure from party colleagues to suspend Ms Dugdale, told the BBC: “There are issues not just around the fact that she’s there and the kind of programme that it is and people’s view of that.
“There’s also the question about whether she got permission to do that.”
He added: “My understanding is that she sought permission and wasn’t given permission.
“There is going to need to be a proper discussion about it, the circumstances around it and whether it is appropriate to take action or not.
“I am not persuaded the immediate step that the Labour Party needs to take is to suspend Kezia from membership of the Labour Party but I do think we need to have a discussion about it.”
The former Dundee schoolgirl’s decision to join the programme triggered a backlash, with Labour colleagues accusing her of abandoning her constituents and “demeaning” politics.
Nicola Sturgeon said she could not see the logic behind Ms Dugdale’s decision.
The FM added: “I am not sure I entirely understand what Kezia Dugdale thinks she will benefit from this.
“I am also not clear what her motivation might be. It’s not a decision I would take. I’m not sure there are many politicians who would choose to do what she is doing.
“That said, she is in the Scottish Labour Party – they appear to be a nest of vipers, so perhaps getting away from that to the jungle, when you see it in that context, it’s easier to understand.”
She added: “She’s decided to do it, so you know what, good luck to her.”
Ms Dugdale’s partner Jenny Gilruth, an SNP MSP in Fife, said the former Labour leader was being bullied by some of her party colleagues.
Ms Gilruth said on Twitter: “I see @ scottishlabour have developed their own unique take on the final day of #AntiBullyingWeek. Huge props, comrades! #TeamKez.”
The Labour MSP’s father Jeff Dugdale said he believes the move offers an opportunity for a politician to engage with the wider public.
“The more I absorb the reaction on Facebook To Kez in ImAC, the more I see the possibilities of a young politician speaking to a new audience ,” he tweeted.
At the weekend, a Scottish Labour source said Ms Dugdale’s appearance would be a “fantastic opportunity” for her to talk about policies and Labour values on a popular show.
It is thought that Ms Dugdale will pocket about £50,000 from the show.
She has said she will donate her MSP earnings during her time away to good causes, as well as a portion of her appearance fee.
Ex-Conservative MP and I’m A Celebrity star Edwina Currie delivered a last minute warning to Ms Dugdale against heading to the jungle.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Serving politicians have a job to do. They’ve only got one job to do and that’s the one they should stick at.”
She is in the Scottish Labour Party – they appear to be a nest of vipers. NICOLA STURGEON