Rising star Dugdale ‘is front-runner’

SINCE her election to Holyrood in 2011, Kezia Dugdale has been regarded as a rising star in the Scottish Labour Party.

Despite her relative lack of experience, the 33-year-old is the clear favourite to become deputy leader.

Although she has yet to formally announce her candidature, MSP colleagues fully expect her to stand and she spent much of yesterday sounding out colleagues.

“Kez is absolutely the frontrunner,” one MSP said yesterday. “There are a lot of phone calls being made and I am sure she will stand.”

Ms Dugdale did return phone calls terday.

In a recent interview she ruled herself out of the leader’s job, but said she would stand as deputy leader of the Scottish Labour party if the position fell vacant. not yes-