Kezia Dugdale Resigns As Scottish Labour Leader

Kezia Dugdale has resigned as leader of
the Scottish Labour Party.



She was elected leader in 2015 - after just
four years in Holyrood.



Sky News Scotland Correspondent James
Matthews, who broke the news, said: "I
think she's simply had enough on a
number of levels in a very difficult job."



It is believed that Scottish Labour
members were told on Tuesday, and that a
public announcement is expected later.



In her resignation letter to the chair of the
Scottish Labour Party, Ms Dugdale writes:

"I've given this task all that I have.

"With nearly four years until the next
Scottish Parliament election, I'm convinced
the party needs a new leader with fresh
energy, drive and a new mandate to take
the party into that contest."



Labour slipped into third place in the
Scottish Parliament at the last Holyrood
election, and won seven seats at the last
General Election.



James Matthews said: "There has been
tension between the Corbyn camp and
Kezia Dugdale.



She has previously called
him divisive and said that he wasn't the
man to take Labour forward. As he gained
traction within the Labour movement and
the larger population, she said that he was
an electoral asset.



"Within the party, and in terms of Labour's
wider electoral prospects, she probably
saw the long road ahead and didn't see
quite where she fitted in to the Jeremy
Corbyn movie."



The Labour leader has recently been in
Scotland for five days, visiting marginal
constituencies in a bid to win back
support for the party.



Responding to news of her departure, Mr
Corbyn said: "I'd like to thank Kezia
Dugdale for her work as Scottish Labour
leader and the important role she has
played in rebuilding the party in Scotland.


"Kezia became Scottish leader at one of the
most difficult times in the history of the
Scottish Labour Party, and the party's
revival is now fully under way, with six
new MPs and many more to come.




"I want to thank Kez for her tireless service
to our party and movement, and look
forward to campaigning with her in future
for a country that works for the many not
the few."



In her resignation letter, Ms Dugdale also
referred to her close friend Gordon
Aikman, who died from Motor Neurone
Disease in February.



She writes: "He taught me a lot about how
to live.


His terminal illness forced him to
identify what he really wanted from life.



How to make the most of it, and how to
make a difference.


"He taught me how precious and short life
was, and never to waste a moment."



Last month Ms Dugdale announced that
she was in a relationship with SNP MSP
Jenny Gilruth.



The pair have been in a relationship for
around five months, after Ms Dugdale split
with her partner of nine years in January.



The politicians from rival parties were said
to "share much in common" but "agreed
to disagree" when it comes to politics.


Source-Skynews