Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale reveals relationship with SNP politician
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has revealed that she is in a relationship with an SNP politician.
Dugdale confirmed her relationship with the Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth.
In a joint statement released by the couple, they explained that they had been dating since March and while they did not feel it was “news”, it still needed to be shared.
The statement read: “We don’t consider this to be ‘news’ – but we appreciate others might and we want to go about our daily lives normally.
“We would like to thank our friends, family and colleagues for their kindness over the past few months and for their love and support.
“We’d politely ask that our privacy is respected because while we are both politicians, we are also human beings – in a new relationship, which we cherish.”
The pair’s relationship has been celebrated by SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
She wrote on Twitter: “So love really does conquer all! Wishing every happiness to @JennyGilruth & @kezdugdale.”
32-year-old Gilruth was elected to the Scottish Parliament last year.
The former teacher is a parliamentary liaison officer to Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Gilruth and Dugdale met last summer when they both attended a cross-party political trip to the US.
A friend of the couple has said that they’re very “happy” together, and can” agree to disagree” when it comes to politics.
“Kez and Jenny are so happy together and make a great couple.
“They share much in common, but like so many couples they differ over their politics – which is something they will always agree to disagree on,” the friend said.
It comes after 35-year-old Dugdale split with her long-term partner and fiancé at the time, Louis Riddell, over Christmas.
The Labour politician became the fourth Scottish party leader to come out in April last year when she said: “I have a female partner. I don’t talk about it very much because I don’t feel I need to.”
Dugdale told PinkNews that she has always felt compelled to use her voice for the LGBT community.
“The most important thing to me is that I use the voice and the power that I have to make a difference for young LGBT people and that’s why I look back at what I’ve done over the past five years with a great deal of pride,” she said.
