KEZIA Dugdale has been branded “deluded” after saying she still hopes her appearance on a reality TV show drinking an ostrich anus smoothie can promote Labour values.
Despite near universal criticism of her joining I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the former Scottish party leader said “only time will tell” if her decision would pay off politically.
She also claimed to be “desperate to get back to work” after taking an unauthorised three-week break from the Scottish Parliament.
The Lothians MSP is due to return to Holyrood tomorrow, where she will have to account to new leader Richard Leonard for her stint on the jungle adventure show.
Before flying to Australia last month, Ms Dugdale said the contest would be “an amazing opportunity” to talk to young people “about politics and - in particular - Labour values”.
Mr Leonard said at the time he was disappointed at her decision, adding: “I’m not sure it is a good way of getting across the message of socialism on television”.
Ms Dugdale was seens by millions thrashing in fish guts and trying to drink smoothies made from bull’s penis and ostrich anus before becoming the second contestant to be voted off.
However in her latest newspaper column today, Ms Dugdale continued to cling to the hope that her appearance could still advance her party’s key messages.
She also said she was returning “wiser, with a clearer mind for the challenges ahead”.
She wrote: “I said I was going in there to talk up Labour values and only time will if I can successfully use the platform of the show to do that.
“But I do hope that I’ve shown that politicians, like everyone else, are decent people with flaws and hang-ups, happy to send themselves up in the name of a giggle.”
Ms Dugdale has said she will give three weeks’ worth of her MSP’s salary to charity, but has yet to say what proportion of her TV fee she will donate.
She is estimated to have received between £75,000 and £100,000.
Ms Dugdale, 36, whose partner is the SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth, also admitted her trip had put the people she loved “through the mill” for the past three weeks.
“I’m coming home wiser, with a clearer mind for the challenges ahead. I’ve learnt to put my phone down and appreciate the world and people around me more.
“I hope to be more respectful and considerate. Smarter with my actions.”
SNP MSP Clare Haughey said: “After weeks in the jungle, it remains to be seen whether Kezia Dugdale will be slotted back into her role as Labour's finance spokesperson ahead of Thursday's budget statement or whether she'll be back to get her jotters.
"It's astounding she's still trumpeting her dalliance with reality TV as some sort of life affirming experience and a platform for Labour values. Talk about deluded.
“Nobody is under the impression it was anything other than a much welcome winter break as far as possible from the infighting of Scottish Labour."
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