Kezia Dugdale has described the Scottish Parliament as the “gayest parliament in the world” as she admitted she had been “bowled over” by the support she had received since confirming she is in a lesbian relationship.

The Scottish Labour leader, who has previously avoided talking about her private life, tweeted her thanks to all those who sent her messages of support after she said she was “in love with a woman”.

She is one of several high-profile political figures in Scotland to have come out. Ms Dugdale praised the reaction to her announcement and hailed the diversity within the Scottish Parliament.

She told the Fabian Society on Friday: ”I have a female partner. I don't talk about it very much because I don't feel I need to. I am generally calm, almost serene. I don't get easily stressed or battered. But I need a bit of stability to do that, and that means my private life is my private life.”

She described the response to her comment after a bruising weekend following her admission that it was “not inconceivable” that she could vote for Scottish independence if Britain voted to leave the EU. The remark led to claims that she was not capable of defending the Union.