Labour’s Kezia Dugdale paid £70,000 for ‘I’m a Celeb’ appearance

Kezia Dugdale was paid £70,000 for her controversial appearance on the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, with the former Scottish Labour leader donating just over £5,000 of the cash to good causes.

A spokesman for the MSP, who informed Holyrood authorities of the payment, said after tax in the UK and Australia the sum was £45,000.

Ms Dugdale donated £5,100 to three charities who she said did “amazing work'' across Scotland.

Glasgow Women's Aid, Who Cares? Scotland, which works with looked-after youngsters, and The Archie Foundation, which helps sick children, will each benefit from £1,700.

She said: “I'm pleased that a number of charities which do amazing work across Scotland will benefit financially from this. I'm delighted to be back in the Parliament serving my constituents across the Lothians.

“I held more than 30 surgeries across the region in 2017 and I will continue to be an open and accessible MSP throughout 2018 and beyond.

“I also look forward to developing a number of campaigns around the Year of Young People in 2018.''

In her Holyrood parliamentary register of interests, Ms Dugdale stated: “Between 19 November and 13 December 2017 I took part in the ITV Production ''I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here”.

“I received a total of between £80,001 and £85,000 in remuneration (which included a fee of £70,000, travel and accommodation and a daily payment whilst not in the camp) from ITV Studios Limited (a television production company of The London Television Centre, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9LT). Registered 15 December 2017.''

When the MSP announced she was appearing on the show she drew criticism and surprise from colleagues and political opponents.

New Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said he was “disappointed'' and fellow MSP Neil Findlay described it as “utterly ludicrous''.

Before appearing on the programme, Ms Dugdale donated her £2,500 parliamentary salary for her time in Australia to the Rock Trust, an Edinburgh-based charity.

Overall she has raised a total of nearly £30,000 for charity since 2015