KEZIA Dugdale will take up a newly created place on Labour’s ruling body after a rule change was approved by the UK party conference in Liverpool.

The change allows the Scottish leader to appoint a member of the National Executive Committee and she has announced she will take up the post herself.

Ms Dugdale said: “These reforms are important. They mean that Scottish Labour will be better placed to stand up for Labour values in Scotland, something we need now more than ever.

“Given the vital importance of this role, I will join the NEC. I will be a loud and passionate voice for Scotland’s interests within our UK wide Labour family. This is a key moment in the history of our party, and our movement.”

The move has been branded undemocratic by left wing supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.

The Campaign for Socialism, within the Scottish party said the NEC representative should be elected not on the say so of the leader.

Vince Mills, speaking on behalf of the CfS said: “More autonomy for the Scottish Labour Party is welcome, but having a Leader place someone on the NEC is an exercise in patronage not democracy.

A guaranteed representative on the NEC should be about empowering our membership as a whole, not simply one person at the top.”

There were claims of a “stitch –up” as the controversial proposal was taken in a bundle of measures, most of which were uncontroversial.

It lead to a heated debate at the conference before it could even get round to discussing the proposal.

UK party leader, Jeremy Corbyn was against the plans and his supporters at the conference tried to block the move, part of reforms to give autonomy to the Scottish party.

It has been reported supporters of Mr Corbyn, re-elected as leader defeating challenger Owen Smith, fear it will lead to a majority on the NEC who are opposed to the leader.