SCOTTISH Labour under Richard Leonard is facing new criticism of being a branch office of the UK party following a decision not to suspend Kezia Dugdale for taking part reality TV show I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

Leonard appeared to suggest at the weekend that list MSP Dugdale could face disciplinary action for heading to the other side of the world to appear on the show while the Scottish Parliament is sitting. However, Jeremy Corbyn contradicted him by saying Dugdale should not be suspended.

Now SNP MSP Ivan McKee has accused Dugdale of “devaluing” the Scottish Parliament and the work of her fellow MSPs by deciding to appear on the show. McKee spoke out after his fellow SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth – Dugdale’s partner – defended the former Scottish Labour leader’s decision to take part.

“I think what Kezia Dugdale has done is to devalue the role that we play as MSPs,” he told The National.

“It’s a great honour to do this job and to think you can just up sticks and head off for weeks without regard to the importance of the job you’re doing, is not good and devalues the whole of the Scottish Parliament as it gives people the impression what we do here isn’t important when it is.

“It ridiculous frankly, and I would hope that if someone in the SNP did what she has done they would suspended.”

McKee added: “I think Jeremy Corbyn – not for the first time – has put a Scottish Labour leader in a difficult place by intervening and making comments without referring to them.

“If Richard Leonard was under instructions or felt that he was under instruction from Jeremy Corbyn, then it doesn’t say much about the much-vaunted autonomy of the Scottish branch office.”

The description of Scottish Labour as a branch office was first used by former leader Johann Lamont when she resigned after the 2014 referendum, as she highlighted criticisms of UK Labour meddling in the party’s business north of the Border.

A statement from Scottish Labour following a meeting of its MSPs yesterday revealed Dugdale will be interviewed by party chiefs once she has returned from her “an unauthorised leave of absence”.

Labour’s Holyrood business manager James Kelly said this would give the former leader, whose decision to head for the jungle prompted an angry reaction from many within the party, the chance to give her version of events. Kelly said the group discussed Dugdale’s decision and concluded she 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,” he said.

Corbyn said on Saturday that Dugdale should not be suspended – just an hour or so after newly- elected Leonard said his group of MSPs would consider it.

Yesterday, Corbyn ally Leonard, whose election on Saturday was overshadowed by the news that Dugdale was heading to the Australian jungle, played down suggestions that he had considered suspending Dugdale, insisting that was not his “immediate reaction”.

Labour MSP Neil Findlay branded Dugdale’s decision to head for the jungle as “utterly ludicrous’’.

Writing in a newspaper yesterday Gilruth said: “There are things we should be angry about right now. The rape clause. Universal Credit. Brexit. Kez going on a TV show isn’t one of them – let’s get some perspective.”

A spokesman for Dugdale said she would comply with the interview process on her return, and will get straight back to work as anMSP.

A Scottish Greens spokesman said: “Every MSP, whether they represent a region or a constituency, has a full-time job and a generous salary. They should all be focused on serving their constituents and scrutinising the Government.”