THE new leader of the Scottish Labour Party has insisted he would always support England in matches against Scotland.
Richard Leonard was only elected as the new man in charge of Labour north of the border last weekened.
He succeeds former head Kezia Dougdale, who has this week flown out to Australia to take part in television show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
But just days into his job he has admitted that when it comes down to sporting matters, there is only one country he can support.
Yorkshire-born Leonard said: “If it’s England v Scotland, I do support England.
“Every other game I will support either Scotland or England. I’m not going to make up something which would be inaccurate.
“My wife, who is Scottish, would bear that out. We watch football together.”
Leonard, 55, has lived in Scotland ever since he went to university but he cannot switch off the allegiance of shouting for his birthplace.
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His admission is sure to go down controversially with Scottish voters at a time when the Labour Party north of the border is looking to reclaim support from the Scottish National Party.
Which teams politicians north of the border support has often been a thorny issue in the country.
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Alex Salmond’s admission he would support England at the 2014 World Cup went down badly, while his predecessor as First Minister Jack McConnell admitted he wanted Trinidad and Tobago to beat England in 2006.
And former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also upset local support when he revealed Paul Gascoigne’s brilliant Euro 96 goal against Scotland was one of his most memorable footballing moments.
Former Scottish Labour leader Dugdale has drawn criticism after deciding to take a break from politics to enter the jungle in Australia.
It has been revealed Dugdale did not seek permission to take part in the the ITV show, which has seen her leave her constituency for three weeks to jet down under.
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