Britain’s centre-left Labour party in Scotland has elected 33-year-old Kezia Dugdale as its new leader as it seeks to rebuild after a humiliating defeat to nationalists in May’s general election.
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Kezia Dugdale has become the youngest-ever leader of the Scottish Labour Party, beating Ken Macintosh.
He saw off competition from fellow MSP Richard Baker and Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson.
“I went on the radio a couple of days later, ahead of actually going to see Jeremy to sit down with him and talk about his campaign and his plans, and in that interview I recognised that in many ways his campaign is exciting the country”.
She aims to turn the focus on the SNP’s domestic record, particularly education, as Nicola Sturgeon prepares to make a major speech on the issue this week.
“It’s my job to appeal to as broad a range of voters as I possibly can”.
Ms Dugdale was widely tipped to win the contest and had the backing of three-quarters of the party’s Scottish parliamentarians.
“I want to transform this country, to shake it up profoundly, so that the life chances of a child born today aren’t determined by how much their parents earn, but by their potential, by their work ethic, and by their ambition”.
Labour have instead chosen to carp from the side lines, while both at Holyrood and Westminster they have made common cause with the Tories on issues such as welfare cuts, the renewal of Trident, and on blocking substantial new powers for Scotland.
“Firstly, a large part of the population have simply switched off from us”, she said.
“They will be leading the historic task of rebuilding our Party in Scotland, reconnecting Labour with the people of Scotland and re-energising the links between our party in Scotland, Wales and England”, she said.
As well as the contest in Scotland, party members are also in the process of choosing their next UK leader.
Ms Dugdale denied accusations that she has backtracked on previous criticisms of Mr Corbyn, the left-wing veteran who is now leading the race to be the next UK Labour leader.
“Throughout this leadership contest, I have spoken in detail about the changes I will make, about the new leadership style and approach to politics I will bring as party leader”.
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Asked about the UK leadership race, she said she would be “happy to work with any of the four” candidates but insisted she would not be taking orders from London.
