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Kezia Dugdale avoids suspension from Scottish Labour over I'm A Celebrity appearance

Kezia Dugdale has arrived in Australia to take part in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! - REX/Shutterstock
Kezia Dugdale has arrived in Australia to take part in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! - REX/Shutterstock

Kezia Dugdale has avoided being suspended from Scottish Labour over her decision to star on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! after the party’s MSPs decided she should have the chance to explain herself.

Hoyrood’s Labour group said Ms Dugdale would instead be interviewed on her return from the reality show in Australia over her decision to take “an unauthorised leave of absence” from her parliamentary duties.

The controversy was an early test for Richard Leonard, her successor as leader, who refused to take a unilateral decision on suspending Ms Dugdale.

Instead he argued it was a decision for the entire group, which ruled against suspension following a discussion behind closed doors in the parliament.

They erred on the side of leniency after Ms Dugdale’s girlfriend, who is a Nationalist MSP, used a newspaper column to urge Labour to “get some perspective” over the controversy and show “a bit of human decency.”

Newly-elected Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard leaves a meeting of the Scottish Labour parliamentary group - Credit: Corbis News
Newly-elected Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard leaves a meeting of the Scottish Labour parliamentary group Credit: Corbis News

The first pictures also emerged of 36-year-old Ms Dugdale in Australia in the show’s jungle attire. The Lothians MSP is expected to be unveiled as a surprise late entry to the programme later this week and will be away from Holyrood for up to three weeks.

Viewers vote for which celebrity they want to see have to complete the stomach-churning Bushtucker Trials, many of which involve cockroaches, spiders and snakes, in return for the group’s meals.

Neil Findlay, a fellow Labour MSP, said at the weekend that he thought Ms Dugdale’s participation “demeans politics” and argued that she should be fighting on behalf of her constituents.

It is understood that some of the Holyrood group thought her decision was so misjudged she should be suspended and forced to become an independent MSP.

But, speaking following the meeting, James Kelly, the party’s business manager, said: “The group concluded that Kezia Dugdale would not face suspension. 

"In accordance with standard procedure, Kezia Dugdale will be interviewed on her return to Parliament and have the opportunity to present her account of events."

A spokesman for Ms Dugdale said: "Kezia will fully comply with the interview process on her return, and will get straight back to work as a Labour MSP, holding regular surgeries as she always has done and assisting Lothian constituents."

Mr Leonard, whose election as leader on Saturday was overshadowed by the furore, has previously said that she sought permission from the leadership before heading to Australia but his understanding was that this was denied.

However, he said his “immediate reaction” was that she should not be suspended and Jeremy Corbyn expressed the same view.

Jenny Gilruth (R), the partner of former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament - Credit: Corbis News
Jenny Gilruth (R), the partner of former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament Credit: Corbis News

Jenny Gilruth, an SNP MSP and Ms Dugdale’s girlfriend, took over the former Scottish Labour leader’s column in the Daily Record to launch an impassioned defence of her partner.

She wrote "There are things we should be angry about right now. The rape clause. Universal Credit. Brexit. Kez going on a TV show isn't one of them - let's get some perspective."

Ms Gilruth also joked Ms Dugdale had "jumped on a plane bound for Brisbane, deciding the snakes Down Under were preferable to the Holyrood variety".

The SNP MSP disclosed that Ms Dugdale had delayed her entry to the jungle to avoid overshadowing the announcement of the new Scottish Labour leader but the decision backfired when news of her involvement leaked.