Glenrothes will head to the polls again this summer, following the resignation of the town’s MP as a local councillor.
The SNP’s Peter Grant was elected to Westminster in May, having already been elected as a local representative for the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie council ward.
It will be the fourth time in less than a year that residents in the area will enter the polling booths, following a by-election earlier in the year, as well as the Scottish independence referendum and general election.
Mr Grant’s resignation came into effect as of last night, with a by-election set to take place within three months.
In a statement, Mr Grant, who led Fife Council between 2007 and 2012, said now is the best time to stand down, to allow him to focus on his new role at Westminster.
“It’s been a great privilege to serve as a councillor for over 23 years, including five years as leader of the council,” he told The Courier.
“During that time I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the finest people God ever made, both councillors and council officers, and to meet some truly amazing people working in paid and unpaid roles in other organisations.
“Taking a number of things into account, now is the best time to go.
“There will be a by-election to fill my council seat, probably some time in September, and I look forward to working for the election of another SNP councillor.”
The outcome of the by-election could prove crucial for the SNP, with control of the Glenrothes area committee up for grabs.