Kezia Dugdale asked Labour bosses for time off to go on overseas charity mission …but didn’t mention I’m A Celebrity
JUNGLE-bound Kezia Dugdale asked Labour bigwigs for permission to go on an overseas charity mission — but didn’t tell them of her shock I’m A Celeb spot.
The former Scottish Labour leader was backed by new supremo Richard Leonard and his leadership rival Anas Sarwar to jet off for three weeks in aid of good causes.
But we can reveal she kept them in the dark about her surprise jaunt Down Under, as she vowed to donate a cut of her fee and Scottish parliament salary to needy groups.
A source close to Ms Dugdale said she first approached the party’s business manager James Kelly but he “didn’t think it was his place” to decide.
The insider added: “She didn’t go into the specifics of it being I’m A Celebrity.
“She asked both Richard and Anas, ‘Can I go away for three weeks?’ Both candidates said yes.”
It emerged as a storm erupted over her telly call-up to join boxer Amir Khan, Hollyoaks hardman Jamie Lomas and Made in Chelsea’s Georgia Toffolo in the Aussie camp.
Corbyn ally Mr Leonard — who succeeded her as Labour leader at Holyrood — .
And party colleagues blasted her decision to join the ITV hit hosted by Ant and Dec.
Moments after being elected, Mr Leonard said he was “disappointed” by the news.
Mr Corbyn said: “It’s her choice to go on I’m A Celebrity. I don’t think it’s appropriate to suspend someone for doing that. That’s her choice.”
Mr Sarwar claimed he couldn’t wait to see her chomping critters on the programme’s gruesome Bushtucker Trials.
He said: “I would prefer Kezia Dugdale was in the Scottish Parliament over the coming weeks fighting for her constituents and fighting for the Labour Party, but she has taken the decision that she has.
“I’ll be keeping the campaign phonebanks running to make sure she is doing every Bushtucker Trial for the next few weeks.”
Ms Dugdale sensationally quit as leader in August amid rumours Corbynites were planning a coup.
Pals said she plans to give a cut of her show fee — said to be at the “lower end of the scale” — to charity, plus the full proportion of her £60,000 MSP wage during her time away.
They revealed she was “incredibly excited” about her trip but rubbished suggestions she should be axed or was planning to quit politics.
A friend of Ms Dugdale — dating the SNP’s Jenny Gilruth — said: “She is looking forward to discussing burning issues around the camp fire, be it Brexit with Stanley Johnson or the fight for equality with Shappi Khorsandi.
"She’s also keen to speak about Labour left-wing values on a prime-time platform where she’ll be able to reach young people — particularly young women — in a way that you never can from Holyrood.”
They added: “The idea the party would suspend her for having three weeks off after the service she has given is outrageous.
“She’ll serve the people of the Lothians until the next election and, if elected, beyond that.”
Tory MP Nadine Dorries was suspended for her 2012 stint on the ITV show.
She had to apologise to the Commons for refusing to declare how much she was paid.
christine.lavelle@the-sun.co.uk
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