Kezia Dugdale ‘to quit Holyrood’ this summer over frustrations with party

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has refused to deny claims she will quit Holyrood later this summer.

It is understood the Lothians MSP has made the decision amid frustration over her party’s position on Brexit and Westminster leader Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to get behind a People’s Vote.

She will make an announcement on her departure in the coming weeks, according to newspaper reports.

A spokesman for Ms Dugdale refused to comment on the claims yesterday.

Ms Dugdale served as Labour leader in Scotland between 2015 and 2017, taking over from Jim Murphy.

She revealed in July 2017, while still Labour leader, that she was in a relationship with the SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth. 0 Kezia Dugdale was Scottish Labour leader between 2015-17

Earlier this month she won a defamation case against the pro-independence blogger Stuart Campbell, from Wings Over Scotland, who sued after she suggested he was homophobic.

Ms Dugdale later revealed the court case had resulted in her breaking contact with her independence-supporting father, saying: “I can’t humour him in my life just now. Even since the legal action, he has regularly engaged online with Wings Over Scotland.”

It is also understood Dugdale has been unhappy at the direction of the party under Mr Corbynandhersuccessorrichard Leonard.

She prompted anger among some colleagues after standing down as leader when she agreed to appear on the reality TV show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! while the Scottish Parliament was still sitting.

If she does quit, there will be no requirement for a parliamentary by-election with the next person on Labour’s list automatically taking up the seat.

Former MSP and minister Sarah Boyack, who is director of public affairs with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, is next on the list.