Anger over Brexit led Dugdale to vote SNP

Scottish Labour's former leader Kezia Dugdale has said she once voted for the SNP because she was "so mad about Brexit".

Ms Dugdale said she voted for the pro-independence party at the last European election before the UK left the EU.

However, ms dug dale, who is now director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow, said she has backed Labour in the other elections since then.

The former MSP led Scottish Labour between 2015 and 2017. She spoke to BBC Radio 4 in recent weeks for an upcoming documentary on the general election battle in Scotland.

Ms Dugdale said: "I voted SNP once in my life and that was in the European Union elections immediately after Brexit, where I was so mad abou tb rex it,i wanted to register a vote for them. And for that reason alone.

"I felt I could vote for the SNP in that European Union election, because that in no way could be construed as a vote for independence.

"I felt that that was a safe thing to do. I voted Labour in every election since then."

The former Scottish Labour leader, who is no longer a party member, is married to SNP Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.

In august last year, ms dug dale said her stance on independence had" moved" as she could no longer argue as strongly for the union as she did in 2014, but was not necessarily ready to vote Yes.

The BBC documentary also spoke to current Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who said he believes 28 Scottish seats are "in play" at the general election.

Mr Sarwar said: "People talk a lot about tip ping points in the polls. i think the tip ping point in Scotland is around 35 per cent - if we get around 35 per cent in the polls then we are in competition to beat the SNP.”

First Minister and SNP leader humza yo us af said he looked forward to a" battle of ideas" at the general election.