Dugdale wins support of third trade union in Scottish leadership race

Kezia Dugdale now has the support of three trade unions in the Scottish Labour leadership contest, following the backing of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) today. This follows the support of Community and Unison for Dugdale’s campaign.

The news comes ahead of tonight’s tough hustings in Dundee, a city which has become a stronghold of support for independence and the SNP. Reacting to the announcement, Dugdale said:

“I am delighted to receive the backing of the CWU to be the next Scottish Labour leader. I am proud to have the support of workers in Post Offices, schools and hospitals all across Scotland, because only by uniting our movement will we once again be ready to represent the people of Scotland.
 
“Now more than ever working people need the Labour Party and trade union movement to present a united front in the face of Tory austerity. Under my leadership the views of trade unionists will always have a prominent place.”

Dugdale also has the support of 11 constituency Labour parties (CLPs) – over 90% of all those that have so far nominated a candidate.

In a piece for The Courier today, Dugdale said that she would make ending educational inequality a priority for Scottish Labour if elected leader in August. She says that if she was First Minister, she would reinstate the 50p tax and use it to fund more classroom assistants.

Her opponent Ken Macintosh has also turned focus on education – yesterday he pledged to boost the number of college places by 100,000. He said:

“The SNP’s record on college education is appalling and, as a result, it is failing an entire generation of young people for whom university is not possible or not the best option.

These cynical cuts imposed by the SNP on colleges cannot be allowed to continue. As Labour Leader, I will reverse this disgraceful downward trend, guaranteeing an extra 100,000 college places.

Those places will not just be for school leavers but for people of all ages – from 18 to 80 – ensuring that we have a genuine system of lifelong learning.”