SUPPORT for Scottish Labour leadership candidate Kezia Dugdale plummeted after she attacked UK favourite Jeremy Corbyn, a senior party source has told The National.
As the contest north of the Border enters its crucial final week, the well-placed insider said several party members had claimed they had regretted voting for the Lothian MSP after she accused the popular anti-austerity candidate for lacking the credentials to become Prime Minister and said he would would leave Labour “carping from the sidelines”.
Dugdale has no plans to meet the MP for North Islington when he visits Scotland this week for an intensive round of campaigning.
Corbyn has ignited interest in the UK Labour leadership race since joining the contest as the rank outsider at the last minute and people are expected to flock to see him when he travels of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow this Thursday and Friday.
But despite her comments last week Dugdale is still likely to win the Scottish contest as many members cast their vote soon after receiving their ballot papers in mid-July.
“I think Kezia is lucky that many voted early in the contest as a lot of people aren’t too happy about some of the things she’s been saying. They thought her intervention on Corbyn was ill-thought through,” said one insider.
“People have told me that they voted for her but after her comments about Corbyn said they wished they hadn’t.”
Another source added that he was not convinced her comments would lead to a surge in support for her rival, the Eastwood MSP Ken Macintosh, who is also towards the centre of the party.
“I think Kezia’s comments were misjudged over Jeremy Corbyn and she should have kept those views to herself,” he said.
“I doubt though whether they will lead to more support for Ken as Jeremy’s supporters mightn’t be that enthused by what he has to say.”
However, Macintosh last night claimed the momentum had swung behind him with many members and supporters yet to cast their vote.
He declined to comment on the claims that Dugdale has lost support over her Corbyn intervention, but said many in Labour could learn a lot from Corbyn.
“I certainly recognise the attraction that Jeremy has to our members. He speaks with authenticity and integrity and appeals with a direct message to members which is something I have been trying to get across,” said Macintosh, who continues to tour Scotland this week to speak to Labour members and supporters directly.
“Because Jeremy has this honesty and integrity all of us, or many of us in Scottish Labour, could learn a lesson from that. He is seen as being true to his principles, which people like and respect rather than shaping our policies to either chase votes or shaping policy in order to stand against someone else’s view.”
A spokesman for Corbyn said the candidate’s meeting in Glasgow next Friday was booked out before it had even been advertised and that organisers were now trying to find a bigger venue or schedule in additional meetings.
His Scottish campaign spokesman Martyn Cook said: “It was incredible, bookings went live on the website at midnight and just through word of mouth and social media half of them had gone overnight. We didn’t even get a chance to get an email out to supporters before all of the tickets were gone – far less do any publicity.
“It shows that the things Jeremy is saying about public ownership and a more equal society are resonating as much in Scotland as they are everywhere else. Obviously we want as many people as possible to hear what Jeremy has to say so we are now running around trying to find ways to get him in front of more people either at a bigger venue or by having more meetings.”
Last night Dugdale’s camp dismissed the suggestion that support for her had fallen following her stance on Corbyn and insisted that she was still on track to win the contest when the result is announced on Saturday. A spokesman said: “There is no credible basis for suggesting that interpretation. Our own canvassing data suggests Kezia will win.”
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