Kezia Dugdale 'quit as Scottish Labour leader because of Corbyn's Brexit stance'
1 min read
Kezia Dugdale has reportedly told colleagues she quit as Labour leader out of frustration with Jeremy Corbyn's stance on Brexit.
The MSP stepped down in August last year, saying the party needed a new leader with "fresh energy and a new mandate".
Today's Sunday Herald reports that Ms Dugdale told a private meeting of Labour MSPs that one of the reasons for her departure was the party's stance on Brexit.
A spokesperson for the former leader said her views on the EU were "long-standing and well-known".
"The Labour Party is the best vehicle for stopping a destructive Brexit in its tracks and we must all work together to stop the Tories from taking us down such a ruinous path,” they told the paper.
Since stepping down, Ms Dugdale has been critical of her party's role in the referendum campaign, calling it "lazy and lacklustre".
However, other Labour sources accused the Lothians MSP of changing her story.
“The real reason Kez quit is that she couldn’t be bothered any more," one insider told the Herald.
"She wanted to spend more time with her partner and enjoy life. It was nothing to do with Labour’s position on Brexit.”
Another source said: “It’s a breathtaking attempt at rewriting history. My view is that she is softening the ground for leaving us and sitting as an independent MSP."
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