David Speirs has stepped down as leader of South Australia’s Liberal opposition party, declaring he has “had a gutful” after facing weeks of speculation over his future.
Speirs announced the move in a statement on Thursday before arriving alone for his final press conference as party head.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: SA Liberal leader David Speirs steps down.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 
“It’s not easy being leader of the opposition and doing the job for two years and four months has certainly taken its toll on me and it’s taken its toll on my family and my friends,” he said.
“I’ve seen speculation based on speculation based on nothing over recent weeks emerge in the papers and the Twittersphere and the like and, to be honest, I’ve just had a gutful.”
In his statement, Speirs had said he wanted to give a new leader “the best possible opportunity to succeed” at the next election.
“I have used the mid-winter break to reflect on my priorities and to speak with family and friends at length about my future,” Speirs said.
“Ultimately, I want to spend more quality time with them and the demands of the role as leader makes this difficult.”
Flinders University political analyst Rob Manwaring said pressure had been mounting on Speirs in recent weeks.
He said there had been a change in his political fortunes in March, when the Liberals lost former premier Steven Marshall’s seat of Dunstan to Labor.
“His exit is a combination of media and political pressure, with most of this political pressure having come from his own ranks of the famously divided Liberal Party,” Manwaring said.
Speirs became the party leader in April 2022, replacing Marshall after Peter Malinauskas led Labor to a landslide victory.
The Liberals have served just one term in office in SA in the past two decades, with Labor otherwise reigning supreme.
Manwaring said it was unusual for political leaders to call time on their tenure.
“The timing is a critical factor for the opposition with a full 18 months to re-establish the party’s credentials, choose a replacement leader and focus on the huge policy task awaiting them if the Liberals are to be seen as a genuine contender for government,” he said.
Speirs said he would continue his role as the MP for Black and would support a new party leader.
“I look forward to playing my part in supporting the next leader of the Liberal Party in offering a fresh and strong alternative government to the people of South Australia,” he said.
The Scottish-born politician has been a member of parliament since 2014.
He said it was an “absolute privilege and honour” to have worked in the top job and said he was able to reconnect the party with everyday South Australians.
“To be able to go from an overseas migrant who settled in the southern suburbs of Adelaide as a teenager to become the leader of the South Australian Liberal Party is something I am immensely proud of and highlights the incredible opportunities available to all South Australians in this remarkable state,” Speirs said.