Nicola Sturgeon says she is baffled by Kezia Dugdale’s decision to join I’m A Celebrity.
But the First Minister suggested the former Scottish Labour leader is entering the jungle to escape the “nest of vipers” in her party.
Ms Dugdale is set to be parachuted into the ITV reality show in the coming days.
The former Dundee schoolgirl’s decision to join the programme triggered a backlash, with Labour colleagues accusing her of abandoning her constituents and “demeaning” politics.
Asked about Ms Dugdale’s participation in the programme, Nicola Sturgeon said: “It’s not something I would want to see an SNP MSP do.
“MSPs are elected to represent their constituents. I think it’s important they do that.”
The First Minister continued: “I am not sure I entirely understand what Kezia Dugdale thinks she will benefit from this.
“I am also not clear what her motivation might be. It’s not a decision I would take. I’m not sure there are many politicians who would choose to do what she is doing.
“That said, she is in the Scottish Labour Party – they appear to be a nest of vipers, so perhaps getting away from that to the jungle, when you see it in that context, it’s easier to understand.”
She added: “She’s decided to do it, so you know what, good luck to her.”
I see @scottishlabour have developed their own unique take on the final day of #AntiBullyingWeek. Huge props, comrades! #TeamKez
— Jenny Gilruth (@JennyGilruth) November 19, 2017
Richard Leonard, the new Scottish Labour leader, said that his understanding is that Ms Dugdale had sought permission for going on the show, but had not received it.
MSPs will consider whether she will be suspended from the party for going on the show.
Mr Leonard told Good Morning Scotland: “I’ve said over the weekend that we need to consider it and I’ve also expressed my own personal disappointment that that was a decision she has chosen to make.
“There are issues, not just the fact that she is there and the kind of programme it is and people’s view of that, there is also a question about whether she got permission to do it.”
Pressed on whether Ms Dugdale had been given the party’s backing to take part in the show, he stated: “My understanding is she sought permission and wasn’t given permission.”
Ms Dugdale’s partner Jenny Gilruth, an SNP MSP in Fife, said the former Labour leader was being bullied by some of her party colleagues.
Ms Gilruth said on Twitter: “I see @scottishlabour have developed their own unique take on the final day of #AntiBullyingWeek. Huge props, comrades! #TeamKez.”
The Labour MSP’s father Jeff Dugdale said going on the show allows a young politician to engage a “new audience”.
The more I absorb the reaction on Facebook To Kez in ImAC, the more I see the possibilities of a young politician speaking to a new audience
— Jeff Dugdale (@Jefforbited) November 19, 2017
