This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64647907
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon says time is right to resign as Scotland's first minister | Nicola Sturgeon says time is right to resign as Scotland's first minister |
| (37 minutes later) | |
| WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks | |
| WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she is resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role. | Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she is resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role. |
| The Scottish National Party leader said that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that this was the right time to step down. | The Scottish National Party leader said that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that this was the right time to step down. |
| She made the announcement at a hastily-arranged news conference in Edinburgh. | She made the announcement at a hastily-arranged news conference in Edinburgh. |
| The first minister said she would remain in office until her successor was elected. | The first minister said she would remain in office until her successor was elected. |
| Ms Sturgeon is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position. | Ms Sturgeon is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position. |
| Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon? | |
| Who is Nicola Sturgeon? | Who is Nicola Sturgeon? |
| Follow live updates on Nicola Sturgeon's resignation | |
| She said serving in the role had been "a privilege beyond measure". | She said serving in the role had been "a privilege beyond measure". |
| But she added: "Since the very first moment in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know, almost instinctively, when the time is right to make way for someone else. | But she added: "Since the very first moment in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know, almost instinctively, when the time is right to make way for someone else. |
| "And when that time came, to have the courage to do so, even if to many across the country, and in my party, might feel it too soon. | "And when that time came, to have the courage to do so, even if to many across the country, and in my party, might feel it too soon. |
| "In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it is right for me, for my party and for the country. | "In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it is right for me, for my party and for the country. |
| "And so today I am announcing my intention to step down as first minister and leader of my party." | "And so today I am announcing my intention to step down as first minister and leader of my party." |
| That Nicola Sturgeon's resignation has come today is, clearly, a surprise to just about everyone in Scottish politics. | That Nicola Sturgeon's resignation has come today is, clearly, a surprise to just about everyone in Scottish politics. |
| But listening to her actually announce it, it is clear this was not a decision she came to overnight. | But listening to her actually announce it, it is clear this was not a decision she came to overnight. |
| This Bute House speech was not drafted at the last minute. She was not up all night writing it. | This Bute House speech was not drafted at the last minute. She was not up all night writing it. |
| There were deep thoughts in there about personal leadership and the wider state of politics which Ms Sturgeon has clearly been kicking around in her head for months. | There were deep thoughts in there about personal leadership and the wider state of politics which Ms Sturgeon has clearly been kicking around in her head for months. |
| Ms Sturgeon said her decision was not a reaction to short-term pressures, but came from "a deeper and longer-term assessment". | Ms Sturgeon said her decision was not a reaction to short-term pressures, but came from "a deeper and longer-term assessment". |
| The first minister said she had been wrestling with the decision for some weeks. | The first minister said she had been wrestling with the decision for some weeks. |
| She said there were two questions - whether carrying on was right for her, and whether it was right for country, her party and the cause of independence. | She said there were two questions - whether carrying on was right for her, and whether it was right for country, her party and the cause of independence. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the answer to both questions was no. | Ms Sturgeon said the answer to both questions was no. |
| Nicola Sturgeon leaving the press conference in Bute House | Nicola Sturgeon leaving the press conference in Bute House |
| "Given the nature and scale of the challenges the country faces, I feel that duty, first and foremost, to our country - to ensure that it does have the energy of leadership it needs, not just today, but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term," she said. | "Given the nature and scale of the challenges the country faces, I feel that duty, first and foremost, to our country - to ensure that it does have the energy of leadership it needs, not just today, but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term," she said. |
| "We are at a critical moment. The blocking of a referendum as the accepted, constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage. | "We are at a critical moment. The blocking of a referendum as the accepted, constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage. |
| "But it puts the onus on us to decide how Scottish democracy will be protected and to ensure that the will of the Scottish people prevails." | "But it puts the onus on us to decide how Scottish democracy will be protected and to ensure that the will of the Scottish people prevails." |
| She said that support for independence needed to be "solidified" and to grow further. | She said that support for independence needed to be "solidified" and to grow further. |
| "To achieve that we need to reach across the divide in Scottish politics, and my judgement now is that this needs a new leader," she said. | "To achieve that we need to reach across the divide in Scottish politics, and my judgement now is that this needs a new leader," she said. |
| People gathered outside Bute House while Ms Sturgeon made her statement | People gathered outside Bute House while Ms Sturgeon made her statement |
| Ms Sturgeon said she was "not leaving politics" and would continue to fight for Scottish independence. | Ms Sturgeon said she was "not leaving politics" and would continue to fight for Scottish independence. |
| Former SNP MP Stephen Gethins said Ms Sturgeon had "led with distinction" and that he was "surprised... and disappointed" by the news. | Former SNP MP Stephen Gethins said Ms Sturgeon had "led with distinction" and that he was "surprised... and disappointed" by the news. |
| SNP MP Stewart McDonald described the first minister as "the finest public servant of the devolution age". | SNP MP Stewart McDonald described the first minister as "the finest public servant of the devolution age". |
| Ms Sturgeon has been a member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999, and became the deputy leader of the SNP in 2004. | Ms Sturgeon has been a member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999, and became the deputy leader of the SNP in 2004. |
| To many, Nicola Sturgeon has become the face of Scottish independence in her time as first minister. | To many, Nicola Sturgeon has become the face of Scottish independence in her time as first minister. |
| But in truth, it's far from clear if and when another referendum will happen. | But in truth, it's far from clear if and when another referendum will happen. |
| The SNP is due to hold a special conference in March to discuss whether to use the next general election as a de facto referendum. | The SNP is due to hold a special conference in March to discuss whether to use the next general election as a de facto referendum. |
| But it is controversial. Some senior figures accept it won't work - others have accused Sturgeon of waiting too long to push that case. | But it is controversial. Some senior figures accept it won't work - others have accused Sturgeon of waiting too long to push that case. |
| But might the departure of the party leader mean a rethink on independence strategy? | But might the departure of the party leader mean a rethink on independence strategy? |
| Possibly. It'll certainly be a key question for whoever wants to be the next SNP leader. | Possibly. It'll certainly be a key question for whoever wants to be the next SNP leader. |
| She has been first minister since November 2014, when she took over from Alex Salmond after the defeat in the independence referendum. | She has been first minister since November 2014, when she took over from Alex Salmond after the defeat in the independence referendum. |
| Ms Sturgeon has led the SNP to a series of election victories at UK, Scottish and local level. | Ms Sturgeon has led the SNP to a series of election victories at UK, Scottish and local level. |
| Last year the UK Supreme Court ruled that Holyrood did not have the power to stage another independence referendum - a move which has been blocked by the UK government | Last year the UK Supreme Court ruled that Holyrood did not have the power to stage another independence referendum - a move which has been blocked by the UK government |
| Ms Sturgeon wants the SNP to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum, but there has been some opposition to the plan within the SNP. | Ms Sturgeon wants the SNP to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum, but there has been some opposition to the plan within the SNP. |
| In addition, recent months have seen controversies over gender reforms, which have been blocked by the UK government. | In addition, recent months have seen controversies over gender reforms, which have been blocked by the UK government. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |