New Scottish Labour leader shouldn’t rush to judgment over jungle girl Kezia
Should the Scottish Labour parliamentary party take disciplinary action against former leader Kezia Dugdale for a departure to Australia to seek temporary celebrity status ( your rep or t, 20 November)? It is the first real test of leadership for the incumbent Richard Leonard. He would be wise not to seek a knee- jerk approach to a matter which may well be forgotten about before the year is out. Ms Dugdale has thumbed her nose in a fanfare of publicity at those who have tried to undermine her over the last two years. It is a well organised fit of pique –“I’m a Celebrity, Get me away from the Labour Party” – aimed at taking the limelight away from her successor. It would be wrong to react by a gesture that was mean- minded and humourless. Mr Leonard should have much bigger things on his mind.
The circumstances in which he takes over are almost bizarre: a deputy leader who is facing allegations of harassment and now a former leader vainly seeking TV fame. The challenges he faces are multiple, not least the business of at least restoring his party to the second largest in the Holyrood chamber. But the workers at Bifab, the claimants of universal credit, the families struggling with declining real incomes, the businesses crying out for more certainty, are looking for a serious response too. More people are likely to watch I’m A Celebrity ... than are ever likely to read a Labour policy document or manifesto. The new Scottish Labour leader would be wise to recognise the public relations aspect of it all. In the final analysis though, he will be judged on how he reacts to ordinar y people’s fears and ambitions far, far away from the Antipodean jungle.
BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes IfKeziaDugd ale thinks it a good idea togo on a“celebrit y” television programme, may we now reconsider her political judgment during her time as leader of the Labour Pary in Scotland? I would suggest that we cannot trust in her judgment as being other than being in her own interest; her ambition for herself is beyond belief. Thank goodness she has gone.
DAVID GERRARD Spylaw Park, Edinburgh KeziaDugd ale will do well. Her time as Labour leader might have been the perfect preparation for the challenges – she will probably find the tropical jungle easier to cope with than the political jungle. After all, she has d ea ltsuccessfully with many unpleasant creeps and crawlers over the last couple of years.
BILL DREW Cairn Road, Kirriemuir As an ex- miner and staunch Labour Party supporter, I find it absolutely disgraceful that Kezia Dugdale chooses to appear on I’m A Celebrity...
With all the problems in the world today, how on earth can young people take politics seriously when this happens? I used to get very angry with anyone who said a bad word about Labour. I have realised for many years now how silly I had been and Ms Dugdale’s decision only confirms it.
JOHN CONNOR David Henderson Court
Dunfermline