I’m A Celebrity’s Kezia Dugdale defends her controversial appearance in the jungle and says she’ll fly straight home to vote when she’s kicked off
KEZIA Dugdale insists her time in the jungle won't interfere with her job as an MSP.
The former Scottish Labour Party leader, 36, has entered the jungle along with radio host Iain Lee and claims the opportunity to bring a political element to such a mainstream show was just too appealing to resist.
She said: “I totally understand and fully expect that it is hugely controversial at home.
"There are a few things I would say about that. First and foremost, I am going into the jungle late and that was because I wanted to minimise as much as possible the time I spent away from my constituency and the region that I represent in Edinburgh.
“It remains one of the biggest shows in UK TV and it is an amazing platform to talk about politics and labour values, the difference politicians can make and maybe show a human side to politicians too.
"That is the professional appeal to it. I guess a more personal one is to push myself to the limits."
She added: "The minute I get back from this experience I am going to go straight from the airport into the parliament and vote.
"There are no major pieces of legislation that I am going to miss in the three weeks that I am here.
"I will be back in time to vote in the budget and I will face my constituents then."
Yesterday Kezia said she'd be donating some of her undisclosed appearance fee to charity, which was another reason for taking part.
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She boasted: “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.”
Party bosses are furious as they had refused her request to appear in the Aussie TV jungle, but have decided not to suspend her. However, Scottish Labour Business Manager James Kelly said that she would be interviewed on her return.
Kezia said she will give her parliamentary salary, paid by the taxpayer, to the Rock Trust homeless charity while she is away.
Discussing her plans to donate part of her fee to charity, she said: “I haven’t settled what portion will go to charity yet as there’s lots of things I have to do like pay taxes.
“I’ll do that on return but I have already paid my salary in advance. Raising money for charity is part of the reason I’m doing this.”
MP Nadine Dorries was suspended by the Conservative Party after appearing on I’m a Celeb in 2012. She was reinstated the following year. Kezia said the MP's appearance had no bearing on her own decision.
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