FORMER Scots Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is set for the jungle after a shock last-minute call-up to I’m a Celeb.

The MSP, 36, will fly to Australia this weekend to join campmates including boxer Amir Khan and Boris Johnson’s dad Stanley.

8 Former Scots Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is set for the jungle after shock last-minute call-up to I’m a Celeb

But her unlikely inclusion on the smash ITV show is set to spark controversy - five years after MP Nadine Dorries was blasted for ‘abandoning’ voters.

A source said: “It’s hard to represent constituents when you’re on the other side of the world.

“This signing is bound to annoy a lot of taxpayers. Kezia is going to be unable to perform her day job and serve her constituents for several weeks while she’s in the show.

8 The shock move comes five years after MP Nadine Dorries was blasted for ‘abandoning’ voters

“It might be good publicity for her, but there’s some who will think it’s not so good for the Labour party.”

The source added: “Bosses know she’ll get people talking.

"Kezia’s a strong figure with some forthright views which she will bring to the show.”

8 The original 2017 lineup of I’m A Celebrity was revealed last week Credit: PA:Press Association

One source close to Kez said: "What a fantastic opportunity for Kez to speak about politics and Labour values on one of the most popular and watched TV shows in the UK.

“Everyone in the party knows Kez worked tirelessly as leader, and held over 30 surgeries this year alone despite the pressure of being in the top job, and she has donated more than £20,000 to charity.

“She'll now be giving even more to charity, including her salary while she's away for a short while.

“She puts other politicians to shame with her work ethic and I'm sure there will be huge support for her from Scottish viewers while she's in the jungle.

"She'll be back in time for the budget and will get straight down to work once again for the people of the Lothians."

Kezia’s stint in the jungle could mean she will miss the fallout from Chancellor Philip Hammond’s UK Budget next week.

However, she might just make it back to hear Finance Secretary Derek Mackay deliver the Scottish Budget on December 14 - where he could announce tax hikes for people earning over £24,000 - as the show usually runs for three weeks.

8 Kezia with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Credit: Alamy Live News

The Lothian MSP - who gets a salary of around £60,000 - will also leave her constituents without a representative while she is Down Under.

Kezia took over as Labour leader from Jim Murphy in August 2015, after the party lost all but one Westminster seat in Scotland to the SNP.

Labour then finished third behind the Nats and Tories in the 2016 Holyrood election, but went on to win seven seats in June’s snap general election.

8 Kezia quit as leader in August after two years in the job Credit: Getty Images - Getty

A Scottish Tories spokesman said: "Kezia clearly thinks dining on kangaroo testicle is more appealing than being an MSP.

"She should consider her position as an elected member before chucking herself off that plane over the Australian jungle."

She quit as leader in August after two years in the job, but said she would stay on as a backbencher.

Kezia said it was time to “pass on the baton” on to someone else with “fresh energy, drive and a new mandate” and insisted she was leaving her party in a much better state than she found it.

The former boss said she wanted to give her successor the “space and time” to prepare for the next Scottish Parliament election in 2021.

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She is the third Scottish Labour leader to have resigned since the 2014 independence referendum - following on from Mr Murphy and Johann Lamont - and her replacement will be announced between candidates Anas Sarwar and Richard Leonard in Glasgow tomorrow.

Her interim replacement Alex Rowley was suspended by the party’s parliamentary group this week after The Scottish Sun revealed abusive texts he had sent a former partner, with economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie taking over until the permanent leader is revealed.

8 Rowley is at the centre of claims by a former partner Credit: PA:Press Association

Earlier this week Kezia hosted a number of back-to-back constituency advice surgeries - thought to be a ploy to avoid criticism over those she will miss in the coming weeks.

In July Kezia revealed she is in a relationship with Holyrood rival Jenny Gilruth, SNP MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, who was voted in in the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary election.

8 Kezia revealed she is in a relationship with Holyrood rival Jenny Gilruth

In a joint statement the pair, who have been dating for around eight months, told how they will “cherish” the relationship.

It came after Kezia split from long-term partner Louise Riddell last Christmas. The women, who had been together for nine years, had got engaged just five months before their break-up.

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The last time a serving politician, Tory MP Nadine Dorries in 2012, went into the jungle she was suspended by her party.

She later had to apologise to the House of Commons for refusing to declare how much she was paid for the ITV show.

Kezia is the third Scots politician to land up in a telly reality show.

8 Galloway was mocked by viewers for wearing a tight leotard and pretending to be a cat

In 2006 George Galloway appeared in Celebrity Big Brother — and was mocked by viewers for wearing a tight leotard and pretending to be a cat.

At the time the former Labour MP, 63, was the sitting Respect member for a London constituency.

His housemates included Rula Lenska, Michael Barrymore and model Jodie Marsh.

Three years later former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan, 53, went into the CBB House with La Toya Jackson, Ulrika Jonsson and Terry Christian.

One more star has still to be named to join the I’m a Celeb camp in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.

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