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Kezia Dugdale avoids suspension over I'm A Celebrity appearance

The former Scottish Labour leader will be interviewed when she returns from Australia to "present her account of events".

'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' TV Show, Series 17, Surfers Paradise, Australia - 21 Nov 2017
Image: Kezia Dugdale has travelled to Australia for the reality TV show
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Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will not be suspended for an "unauthorised leave of absence" to appear on I'm A Celebrity, the party has announced.

The MSP faced criticism from some colleagues when she was revealed as a surprise contestant in the ITV show on Saturday.

But a party official confirmed Ms Dugdale would keep the party whip and be interviewed upon her return from Australia.

Business manager James Kelly said: "The Scottish Parliamentary Labour group today discussed the decision of Kezia Dugdale to take an unauthorised leave of absence from her parliamentary duties.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Richard Leonard MSP launches his campaign for the Scottish Labour Party leadership at City of Glasgow College on September 16, 2017 in Glasgow,Scotland. The current脢Scottish Labour Party leadership election脢was triggered on 29 August 2017 following the resignation of Kezia Dugdale as脢leader脢of the脢party, having led the脢Labour in Scotland脢for the past two years. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Image: The new Scottish Labour leader said she should not be suspended

"Today, 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 spokesperson 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."

More on Kezia Dugdale

'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' TV Show, Series 17, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia - 21 Nov 2017
Image: Ms Dugdale agreed to 'fully comply' with the interview progress

UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn has already said the former Scottish Labour leader, who quit in August, should not be suspended for taking part in the reality TV show.

Richard Leonard, who was elected as her successor on the same day as news of the programme's line-up broke, also said suspending her was not his "immediate reaction".

But Labour MSP Neil Findlay branded her decision "utterly ludicrous", suggesting it "demeans politics".

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tuned into the first episode of I'm A Celebrity and declared she was "#teamKez", but later added: "It's not something I would want to see an SNP MSP do."