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Kezia Dugdale admits her I'm A Celebrity fee is not 'in any sense small'

Kezia Dugdale has faced a backlash from Labour colleagues in Scotland - Copyright (c) 2017 Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Kezia Dugdale has faced a backlash from Labour colleagues in Scotland - Copyright (c) 2017 Shutterstock. No use without permission.

Kezia Dugdale has described her fee for appearing on I’m A Celebrity…Get me Out Of Here! as not “in any sense small”, while insisting that her three week stint in the jungle is not a second job.

The MSP and former Scottish Labour leader is donating the £2,500 salary she will earn as a politician during her time away to charity.

She added that a portion of her appearance fee, which she said contractually could not be disclosed at present, would also be donated to the same Rock Trust, which supports young people affected by homelessness.

Ms Dugdale told a tabloid newspaper: "There's no doubt that I'm receiving a fee for this in return for being away for three weeks, so I'm not suggesting for a second that the sums involved are in any sense small."

She added: “No, this isn't a second job, this is three weeks out of my work, because I've given my salary away."

She also told The Scottish Sun that she planned on her return to “go straight from the airport into the parliament and vote”, adding that she would not miss any pieces of major legislation.

kezia dugdale - Credit: James Gourley, REX
The MSP said she would talk about Labour values and donate to charity Credit: James Gourley, REX

Ms Dugdale was not given permission by Scottish Labour to appear on the show but bosses decided this week not to suspend her over the “unauthorised leave of absence”, saying they would instead interview her on her return.

She sought to explain her decision further when she issued a statement saying she was taking part in I’m A Celebrity to talk to young people across the UK about politics and her Labour values.

In a video recorded in the Scottish Parliament before she left, she said she was aware that it was “quite a controversial move” for “quite a few” of her constituents.

She added: “I know there will be people that are upset about it, who will question my priorities. So I wanted to take a little minute to explain why I’m doing this and hope that I can get your support for the adventures ahead.

richard leonard - Credit: PA
Richard Leonard (left), the Scottish Labour leader, with colleagues in the parliamentary group Credit: PA

“First and foremost, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here is a huge UK-wide television programme, with an audience into the millions. I think it’s an amazing opportunity to talk to young people who watch this programme about politics, and - in particular - Labour values.

“The first time I was approached to do this programme, I said no. I turned it down because I didn’t think I could be away from my job for over five weeks. The show came back to me and asked me if I would do it if I could go away for just three weeks and two days, and that’s what I’m going to do.

“So the minute that I leave Australia I’ll be coming back to the Scottish Parliament to do my job as Labour MSP for Edinburgh and the Lothians, and I’m committed to doing that for the long-term and I hope to stand at the next election again as well.”

She ended with a plea to voters to tune into the show, saying: “You’ve got an opportunity to vote for me to do horrendous tasks covered in beasties, and you also have a chance to vote me out when the time comes too. Wish me luck, and if I have to do some of the eating tasks, well – who knows?”