MP Lesley Laird has tendered her resignation as a councillor, it has been announced this afternoon.

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, who was confirmed as the deputy leader of Scottish Labour on Monday, will leave her role in the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay ward on Friday.

Ms Laird, who is also the Shadow Secretary for Scotland, said she would consider her position as a councillor on Monday after being heavily criticised by SNP and Conservative politicians for having "four jobs".

In a letter to Fife Council chief executive Steve Grimmond, she wrote: "It was a fantastic experience and I have learned a great deal about the work of local government and its support of the communities it serves.

"It has been a pleasure to be a ward councillor and to serve the people of Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Dalgety Bay and North Queensferry and I find myself in the fortunate position to still be able to serve communities in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency in my role as MP."

Laird was elected as a councillor in 2012 and, in a confirmation speech as deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said: "Politics doesn’t stop at Westminster or at Holyrood.

"I have served in local government, and I know that councils are the frontline and last line of defence for our communities. I will continue to be your voice.

"Councils across Scotland have been deliberately weakened. Their powers sucked into centralising Holyrood.  I want that to change. Councils are best placed to make decisions in their areas – for the benefit of their communities."