Throughout my adult life I have campaigned against Scottish independence.
I was proud to be part of the successful Better Together campaign in 2014, promoting Labour’s values of solidarity across our family of nations.
I remain angry over the divisions that referendum caused – how it poisoned our politics, leading to wounds that will take years to heal.
Not only do I oppose a second independence referendum, I have put that opposition at the very heart of my general election campaign.
When voters go to the polls across Scotland today, they can elect a Labour MP who will oppose an unwanted and unnecessary second referendum. My opposition to another referendum is absolute.
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That is why I am so angry that Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, demeaned the office she holds earlier this week.
In a live TV leaders’ debate, the SNP leader claimed I had told her, in a private telephone conversation, that I would drop my long-standing opposition to a second independence referendum. It was a categorical lie, plain and simple.
Sadly, those of us in Scotland who engage with Nicola Sturgeon every week are used to her being a stranger to the truth.
She once claimed that improving Scotland’s schools was her “defining mission” when we all know that her only mission is independence.
And, of course, she claimed that the independence referendum would be a “once in a generation” vote. A catalogue of lies.
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Now we can add what she said about our private telephone conversation to that list.
I did speak to the first minister in the hours after the EU referendum last June, as has previously been reported in The Times. She called me - and other leaders - and we both expressed our disappointment at the result.
I said Labour would work with the Scottish government to ensure Scotland could still have as strong and close a relationship with Europe as possible. That was the responsible thing to do, and something my MSPs have done ever since.
In the subsequent months, the only time we disagreed with the SNP in a Scottish parliament vote on Brexit was when the first minister tried to suggest our relationship with Europe is more important than our relationship with the rest of the UK. Another lie.
Nicola Sturgeon regularly speaks to business leaders looking to invest in our country, charity bosses raising valid concerns, and politicians and dignitaries from across the globe.
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Across Scotland there are countless people who will now have reservations about ever speaking to her again.
That could harm our economy and without doubt erode trust in government. Nicola Sturgeon’s character and her judgement is now on the ballot paper in Scotland today.
I urge voters across Scotland to back Labour to show the first minister they will not stand for her gutter politics, and I urge voters across the UK to back Jeremy Corbyn to deliver a government for the many, not the few.
Kezia Dugdale is leader of Scottish Labour