Kezia’s joy over new-found love
KEZIA Dugdale has revealed she is enjoying her life away from the spotlight – only three weeks after she quit as Scottish Labour leader.
Miss Dugdale told how she was focusing on her relationship with the Nationalist MSP Jenny Gilruth and issues such as LGBT rights, as she was named politician of the year at the Icon Awards in Glasgow on Friday.
As she accepted the award, the Lothian MSP paid tribute to her friend Gordon Aikman, who passed away earlier this year after suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
The 36-year-old said: ‘We celebrated the life of a very good friend of mine, Gordon Aikman, and he taught me to live life well.
‘If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s about spending time with people you love and focusing on the things that are important to you.
‘So I’m delighted I’m spending more time with my beautiful and amazing partner Jenny. And also in standing up for things that are important to me, like LGBT rights.’
Miss Dugdale also joked: ‘It seems like the best way to win something was to resign as leader of the Scottish Labour Party.’
On Saturday, Miss Gilruth tweeted a picture of herself and Miss Dugdale at the ceremony, writing: ‘So it turns out I go out with the Politician of the Year!’
In July, Miss Dugdale revealed she and Miss Gilruth, 33, were in a relationship. The couple got together after Miss Dugdale and her former fiancée called off their engagement in December.
She and Louise Riddell split after nine years together and only five months after getting engaged.
Earlier this month, Miss Dugdale claimed she had been forced to reveal she was gay during last year’s Holyrood election campaign after a magazine outed her against her will.
Miss Dugdale’s resignation has triggered a leadership contest, now being fought out between Anas Sarwar and Richard Leonard. Both MSPs officially launched their campaigns at the weekend.
It has been reported MSPs were told of Miss Dugdale’s resignation through the Whatsapp messenger service only hours before it was revealed publicly.