The Daily Record have continued to run Kezia Dugdale’s weekly column despite her resignation as Scottish Labour branch office manager (North British division), and this week we were interested to note her assessment of the devolution years, which could be summarised neatly as “Labour devolution good, SNP devolution bad”.
We raised an especially quizzical eyebrow at the claim that the 1999-2007 Labour/Lib Dem administrations had apparently ended homelessness. So we thought we’d do that thing we do when Kezia Dugdale claims something.
We hadn’t been planning to talk any more about the curious case of Claire Austin, the suddenly publicity-shy Edinburgh nurse who – how can we put this? – seemed a rather ill-chosen figurehead for the good cause of getting more pay for a group of people who are rightly well-regarded by the public.
But yesterday, the release of a letter from Scottish Labour branch manager Kezia Dugdale re-opened political hostilities after last week’s hiatus for the Manchester terror attack by shoving the now-reticent Ms Austin right back into the spotlight.
It’s the holidays, so the papers are desperate to fill space and the political parties are all trying to help out by sending them helpful press releases which can be slotted directly onto pages, titled “PARTY X CONTINUES TO SUPPORT POLICY Z WHICH IT HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED. ALSO, THE OTHER PARTIES ARE BAD”.
Scottish Labour’s contribution is a piece in most papers today reiterating their demand for the Scottish Government to hike the top rate of income tax – a policy on which Labour stood at the last Westminster and Holyrood elections and which was quite stupendously comprehensively rejected by voters, but which Labour inexplicably feel the SNP should implement anyway.
And that’s all very well and good, because Kezia Dugdale gets paid the best part of £80,000 a year by taxpayers and she’s got to say something all day to justify it. The trouble, as we’ve noted at great length on this site, is that so many of the things she says aren’t actually true.
It reveals that the party’s income from donations plunged from £600,000 in 2015 to £100,000 last year, which in the article is blamed on Jeremy Corbyn’s UK leadership (even though Dugdale opposed him in the leadership election).
But there were a few comments in the piece that we thought needed scrutiny.
Kezia Dugdale talking to Gordon Brewer on BBC Scotland today:
“I’m astonished that you’ve spent 10 minutes in this interview talking about independence and Trident when almost 50% of the poorest kids in the country can’t read […] I’m sure you’d be shocked to know that 50% of the poorest kids leave our schools unable to read.”
We suspect he would too. Because it’s total cobblers.
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Brilliant C That’s not just for Hatey- Broke -Back Mountain v2. but for Wilma Flintstone, Pastor Faggat, Beggars, AI dun,…” Apr 16, 02:51
Confused on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “a song for main-face I see he/it has put in a shift today – never mind the quality, feel the…” Apr 16, 00:59
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “It’s panicking folks, Hatey McBrokeback -Mountain face v.2 is struggling! Lordy, you cannae wash away the gay, and, well, 18…” Apr 16, 00:35
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Hatey McBrokeback-Mountain-face v.2 Don’t you mean; both votes Scotchland Greens? That’s where you were hovering earlier-Beaker Queer fixation and all…” Apr 16, 00:05
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““Scotland will be worth a lot more to our ‘procurer’ than £150bn a year now” Of course, Alf. Make it…” Apr 15, 23:12
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Ah, c’moan noo, James. Do you think I want to miss seeing the UN declare Scotland a colony? Miss Swinney’s…” Apr 15, 23:07
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““I think there is truth in this” No shit, Sherlock! But then you think there is truth in everything and…” Apr 15, 22:59
Alf Baird on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Scotland will be worth a lot more to our ‘procurer’ than £150bn a year now, what with upwards of £100bn…” Apr 15, 22:51
James on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Naw….for you, just go the whole hog, lights out. Do Scotland a favour.” Apr 15, 22:46
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““It must kill you that international law is on their side, not yours” I’ll keep an eye on that. Thanks…” Apr 15, 22:46
Geri on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “I think you’ll find it’s actually called “networking” It is of immense benefit. People mingle, make contacts, are introduced to…” Apr 15, 22:43
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Man, YL, you’ve defo got a bit of an obsession with shirt lifting going on right now. My advice is…” Apr 15, 22:35
Geri on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “It must kill you that international law is on their side, not yours. In both conflicts. Always on the wrong…” Apr 15, 22:11
Young Lochinvar on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “HMcH (Broke Back Mountain v.2) @ 6.13 Now now Hatey v.2! The free bus passes for all is a Scotchland…” Apr 15, 22:08
Confused on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “I have heard of “gay for pay” but “gay for STAY”; who does the “testing”? Some lowly civil servant will…” Apr 15, 21:55
Geri on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Arsey, Are you suggesting Jeremy Hunt deliberately mislead Westminster? He stood at the dispatch box & proudly announced that he…” Apr 15, 21:53
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “If only we were Independent, we could really up the ante on trans visibility and inclusion. It grinds my gears…” Apr 15, 21:42
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““the £150bn is completely made up” No way. That can’t be right. I reckon you’ve been colonised, Aidan. You have…” Apr 15, 21:24
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““Don’t blame me” Why would I blame a TradNat like yourself, Geri? It’s ALWAYS somebody else’s fault with you. No…” Apr 15, 21:19
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “EMPLOYEES OUTRAGED OVER IRISH POWER COMPANY’S PRO-TRANS POLICY Female employees have urged Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB) to stop allowing…” Apr 15, 20:39
Aidan on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “@100% Yes – it’s what we call in the corporate sector a “jolly”. A trip that has little if any…” Apr 15, 20:31
Aidan on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Yeah but the £150bn is completely made up and has no chance of materialising at all (nor any figure close…” Apr 15, 20:25
Geri on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Don’t blame me. It’s auto correct that’s doing it. I don’t waste time proof reading. I’m not applying for a…” Apr 15, 20:23
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: ““the process is not simple nor quick” Nae rush. Swinney is promising a referendum in 2028. That’ll be here in…” Apr 15, 20:05
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “Simple enough question, Alf. Will the “£150+ billion plundered each year from Scotland” get me and every other Scot who…” Apr 15, 19:47
Geri on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “£150 billion+ or a free bus pass? Nawbag: can I phone a friend? I’m no programmed tae think. Sorry, clocks…” Apr 15, 19:46
Hatey McHateface on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “You’ve given me so much to think on, Geri, I hardly know where to start. OK, what about here? “USA…” Apr 15, 19:43
sarah on Do You Believe In The Westwood?: “@ 100%Yes: did you watch the Youtube “Liberation Scotland UN Update March 2026”? It was posted on Liberation Scotland’s Facebook…” Apr 15, 19:35
