KEZIA Dugdale will not face suspension from the Labour party over her decision to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, it has been announced.

Scottish Labour MSPs met earlier this afternoon to discuss taking action against their former leader, who has provoked an angry backlash over her upcoming reality TV stint.

They remained holed up in a Holyrood committee room for more than an hour, but party bosses have now announced she will not be suspended.

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.

"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."

Ms Dugdale’s partner Jenny Gilruth, an SNP MSP, earlier said the former Labour leader was “upset” when news of her appearance in the jungle leaked out before the Labour leadership announcement.

Writing in the Daily Record, she said: “I know Kez was upset about the way it affected Labour’s leadership announcement.

“And I know she was upset by some of the hurtful things written about her. How could she not be?

“The Labour party certainly have challenges to face politically – it would be refreshing if that ‘real change’ started with a bit of human decency.”

Ms Dugdale is expected to arrive in the jungle in the next few days amid a storm of controversy, with many in her own party blasting the decision.