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Kezia Dugdale elected leader of Scottish Labour

Scottish Labour’s rising star Kezia Dugdale has been elected leader of the party after just four years as an MSP.

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The 33-year-old beat veteran rival Ken Macintosh with 72.1% of the vote.

MSPs Richard Baker and Alex Rowley, and Glasgow council leader Gordon Matheson are all seeking election to the post, the result of which will also be announced on Saturday.

The contest follows the resignation of Jim Murphy after Labour lost all but one of its Scottish seats at the general election.

Ms Dugdale is the daughter of two teachers, although she has revealed her father Jeff is a paid-up member of the SNP.

Ms Dugdale, who served as Mr Murphy’s deputy, said the job of “rebuilding trust” in Scottish Labour would start straight away under her leadership.

Ms Dugdale was born in Aberdeen in August 1981 and studied law at the city’s university before going on to complete a masters in policy studies at Edinburgh University.

Before politics: From 2007 to 2011 she worked as office manager and political adviser to Labour list MSP George Foulkes.

“The role of the next leader is to set out a positive Labour vision for transforming Scotland and to hold the SNP Government to account for their major failings on schools, the NHS and policing”.

“My appeal to be more open, more willing to work with others and to put the issues first has resonated amongst those whose support we need to win back”.

He said: ” I want to offer the Scottish people hope again – I want to transform the Scottish Labour Party into a positive force for real change in Scotland.

“All I ask is that you take a fresh look at the Scottish Labour Party under my leadership”.

She has said: “I know my dad is very proud of what I do, even if he doesn’t agree with it often”.

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As well as the contest in Scotland, party members are also in the process of choosing their next UK leader.

Kezia Dugdale