Top South Ayrshire councillor quits after seven months in dual role as MSP

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A top South Ayrshire councillor has quit after spending seven months splitting her time as an MSP.Siobhian Brown, who represented the SNP for Ayr West, has been performing a dual role since being elected to Holyrood last May.On becoming an MSP, she insisted she would stay on at local level to "save the cost of a by-election on local taxpayers".But she has now vowed to concentrate on her role in Edinburgh.With the council vote less than five months away, a by-election will not take place, leaving her seat empty until May.Ms Brown snatched the Ayr seat at Holyrood in an historic victory for the SNP last year.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.She then vowed to continue as the Ayr West councillor but today said the time was right to stand down.Ms Brown said: “After being elected to the Ayr seat in May 2021, like most newly-elected MSPs who are councillors, I chose to stay on in the role.“The main reason was that I wanted to save the cost of a by-election on local taxpayers for such a short period of time, as elections are due to take place this year."It was always my intention to step down and I believe now is the right time."Ms Brown added: “I have given my all to both roles and I have continued to assist my Ayr West constituents on local council issues but I need to prioritise and concentrate on being an MSP and my role as convenor of the Covid-19 recovery