Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and party’s National Executive Committee dragged into Kezia Dugdale row

LABOUR’S governing body has been urged to reinstate its backing for Kezia Dugdale in her legal wrangle with a pro-independence blogger.

The MSP, who is being sued for defamation, has spoken of her disappointment that the party has “reneged” on a promise to pay her legal costs.

Now the Dumbarton Constituency Labour Party has passed a motion expressing “shock” at the decision to withdraw funding.

It has called on Labour’s National Executive Committee – which includes leader Jeremy Corbyn – to “immediately reverse this decision”.

The motion also stated: “We are the party of solidarity and should support one of our own.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard will face angry MSPs at his party’s weekly meeting on Tuesday as there is widespread support for his predecessor. Ms Dugdale has also questioned whether voters can trust a party which breaks a promise.

She said: “The Labour Party made a promise and it’s not a good look for any political party to fail to keep its promise.

“This is what it’s doing to one of its own, so how can people trust that party in any other aspect of life?”

Ms Dugdale is being sued for £25,000 over comments she made in a newspaper column about Wings Over Scotland activist Stuart Campbell.