KEZIA Dugdale has separated from her fiancée Louise Riddell, it has been announced.

The Scottish Labour leader broke up with her partner of nine years over the festive period.

Ms Dugdale got engaged to the Edinburgh college lecturer on Mallorca last August.

At the time, the Lothians MSP spoke of her joy at marrying “the love of my life” and posted a picture on social media of the couple wearing their diamond engagement rings.

She said then: “I’m utterly thrilled to be marrying the love of my life and we can’t wait to start planning. We hope this news brings a smile to a few people’s faces and we’ll certainly be toasting all those campaigners and activists who made marriage equality possible.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Tory leader Ruth Davidson were among those who tweeted their congratulations.

The couple met at a house party in the capital in 2008, and bought a flat near the Scottish Parliament together in 2013.

However Ms Dugdale did not come out publicly as gay until just before the 2016 election.

It is understood the couple separated by mutual consent and no other person is involved.

Ms Dugdale, 35, is already under pressure over Labour’s poor standing in the opinion polls, and faces the prospect of her party falling to third place in May’s local elections.

A Labour spokesman said: “Kezia and Louise have separated and request that their privacy is respected.”