KEZIA Dugdale is quitting frontline politics to head up Glasgow University’s John Smith Centre.

The former Scottish Labour leader has confirmed she will step down from the Scottish Parliament in July.

READ MORE: Kezia Dugdale wins £25k defamation case brought by Wings Over Scotland 

Reports at the weekend suggested she was preparing to leave Holyrood and had another job lined up.

It has now been confirmed she will take up a new role as director of the John Smith Centre, which is part of the university’s school of social and political sciences and “promotes a positive vision for representative politics”.

She said: "It has been an honour to represent the Lothian region for Labour in the Scottish Parliament, and to have had the opportunity to serve the party in a variety of roles for over a decade - from party organiser to leader.

“All through that time the passion and commitment of our members has been inspirational.

"No matter how difficult things were activists were always willing to hit the doorsteps to spread Labour’s message.”

READ MORE: Scottish Labour meltdown over leaked European election messages

“I have devoted my working life to public service, and this is an incredibly exciting new opportunity for me to lead the work of the John Smith Centre.

“Throughout my career I have taken on tough and challenging tasks, and my next task is to rebuild faith in our politics.

“Disruptive events and the rise of populism has led to increasingly polarised and emotional politics where rational, evidence-based thinking has lost its standing.

“Faith in public service, politics and the political process has to be restored and that progress must be sustainable.

READ MORE: Kezia Dugdale refuses to comment on speculation she will quit Holyrood in weeks 

“John Smith said ‘the opportunity to serve our country - that is all we ask’. It will be an honour to build on his legacy and inspire his values of public service in a new generation.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wished Ms Dugdale "the very best for the future" on Twitter, adding: "As political opponents, she and I have had our fair share of clashes over the years, but I think she is a big loss to @scottishlabour and to @ScotParl. I hope she enjoys her new challenge."

Ms Dugdale will take up the new post in mid-July, and will also deliver lectures and seminars on politics and public service.

The John Smith Centre for Public Service was established in 2014 and named in memory of the former leader of the UK Labour Party who was an alumnus of Glasgow University. Its aim is to promote a positive vision for representative politics.

The board includes current and former politicians from a variety of backgrounds including Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP, the former Labour MP Ed Balls and the former SNP MSP Andrew Wilson.

Ms Dugdale became Scottish Labour leader in August 2015, before stepping down two years later.

She was replaced by Richard Leonard, an ally of UK leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The Lothians MSP has been a long-standing critics of Mr Corbyn and has been disillusioned with her party’s stance on Brexit. 

She has been an outspoken supporter of a second EU referendum. 

In 2017, Ms Dugdale caused controversy after appearing as a contestant on TV reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Earlier this month she successfully defended a defamation case brought by pro-independence blogger Stuart Campbell, who runs the Wings Over Scotland website.

She had accused Mr Campbell of writing “homophobic tweets”. A sheriff ruled her claim was incorrect, but was protected under fair comment.

The Daily Record newspaper funded her legal team after the Labour Party withdrew support – a move many of Ms Dugdale’s allies viewed as a betrayal.

Mr Leonard said Ms Dugdale would be a "loss to the Scottish Labour Party but I am sure she will still play a valuable role in public life going forward". 

He added: “Kezia stepped forward at a difficult time for the Scottish Labour Party and on many issues – from arguing to use the tax and social security powers of Holyrood to making the case for federalism, she helped the party rebuild after the devastating losses of the 2015  General Election.

“On behalf of the Scottish Labour party I thank Kezia for her service and wish her well in the next exciting chapter of her life.”

Catherine Smith, chair of the Centre and daughter of John Smith, said: "We are absolutely delighted that someone of Kezia’s calibre will be joining us as the first full-time director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service after a rigorous and open recruitment process which attracted a strong international field.

"We are very much looking forward to working with her as she leads our strategic, research and outreach activities and takes the Centre to the next stage of its development."

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University, said: "I am extremely pleased to welcome Kezia Dugdale to the University of Glasgow as director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service.

"Her background as one of Scotland’s most prominent and respected politicians will be invaluable in making a success of this important new position and bring tremendous insights in her academic work with our students, both undergraduate and postgraduate."