A Surprising Confession from a Former Scottish Labour Leader: My Unconventional Voting History

The political landscape of Scotland has undergone significant changes in recent years, with the Scottish National Party (SNP) dominating the political scene. Amidst this shifting political terrain, a surprising confession from a former Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, has shed light on her unconventional voting history.

Kezia Dugdale, who served as the leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2015 to 2017, admitted in a new BBC documentary that she had voted for the SNP in the European Parliament elections held in 2019. This confession came as a shock, given that she had been a Labour member since her youth and had even led the party following its disastrous performance in the 2015 general election.

The catalyst for Dugdale’s decision to vote for the SNP was her deep-seated opposition to Brexit. In the aftermath of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, Dugdale felt compelled to express her discontent by casting her vote for the SNP in the European Parliament elections. She emphasized that her vote was not an endorsement of Scottish independence but rather a protest against Brexit.

Dugdale’s admission underscores the challenges that Labour faced in Scotland following the independence referendum. The programme, titled ‘Labour’s Scotland Challenge,’ explores the collapse of Labour’s vote in Scotland and its hopes for a major comeback at the next general election. The documentary reveals that Labour believes 28 constituencies in Scotland are ‘in play,’ indicating a significant shift in the party’s fortunes.

The fall of Labour in Scotland can be traced back to the 2015 general election, when it lost 43 seats and returned just one MP from Scotland. Dugdale, who became party leader after that election, led Labour until her resignation in 2017. She described the challenges as ‘existential’ in the immediate aftermath and acknowledged that the party’s position in Scotland had fundamentally changed.

Anas Sarwar, who has been the leader of Scottish Labour since 2021, expressed optimism about the party’s prospects in the upcoming general election. He believes that if Labour manages to secure around 35% of the votes, it will be in a position to challenge the SNP. Sarwar’s confidence is based on the premise that a general election will be a ‘battle of ideas,’ and the SNP is strongest when it is discussing policy.

Despite the SNP’s challenges, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf remains optimistic about the party’s prospects in the general election. He views it as an opportunity to present the SNP’s ideas to the electorate. Yousaf acknowledged that 2025 was a difficult year for the SNP but expressed confidence in the party’s ability to engage in a ‘battle of ideas.’

Conservative peer Ruth Davidson, who used to lead the Scottish Conservatives, believes that Labour will benefit from a sense of 2024 being a ‘change’ election. However, she also anticipates that the Conservatives will increase their seat tally in Scotland, despite polling woes across the UK.

Kezia Dugdale’s confession serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances of Scottish politics. Her unconventional voting history underscores the deep-rooted divisions and shifting allegiances that characterize the political landscape of Scotland. As the parties prepare for the upcoming general election, the political landscape is poised for another dramatic chapter in Scotland’s political history.

In conclusion, the confession from Kezia Dugdale, a former Scottish Labour leader, that she voted for the SNP in the European Parliament elections of 2019, has shed light on the complexities and nuances of Scottish politics. Her unconventional voting history underscores the deep-rooted divisions and shifting allegiances that characterize the political landscape of Scotland. As the parties prepare for the upcoming general election, the political landscape is poised for another dramatic chapter in Scotland’s political history. The battle for votes will be fierce, and the parties will need to present compelling arguments and policies to win over the electorate. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the political landscape of Scotland and the UK as a whole.