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| 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 |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks | WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks |
| WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks | WATCH: Sturgeon 'wrestling' with decision to resign for weeks |
| Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she is resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role. | Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she is resigning as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role. |
| The Scottish National Party leader said she knew "in my head and in my heart" this was the right time to step down. | The Scottish National Party leader said she knew "in my head and in my heart" this was the right time to step down. |
| Ms Sturgeon said she would remain in office until her successor was elected. | Ms Sturgeon said she would remain in office until her successor was elected. |
| She is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position. | She is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position. |
| Ms Sturgeon insisted her resignation was not in response to the "latest period of pressure", which has included controversies over gender reforms, trans prisoners and the strategy on independence. | |
| Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon? | Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon? |
| Who is Nicola Sturgeon? | Who is Nicola Sturgeon? |
| A very quick guide to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation | A very quick guide to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation |
| Follow live updates on Nicola Sturgeon's resignation | Follow live updates on Nicola Sturgeon's resignation |
| She acknowledged there had been "choppy waters", but said her decision had come from "a deeper and longer-term assessment". | |
| "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," she said. | |
| "And when that time came, to have the courage to do so, even if 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 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." |
| Nicola Sturgeon leaving the press conference in Bute House | Nicola Sturgeon leaving the press conference in Bute House |
| The first minister said she had been struggling with conflicting emotions since around the turn of the year. | |
| "I get up in the morning and I tell myself, and usually I convince myself, that I've got what it takes to keep going and keep going and keep going," she said. | |
| "But then I realise that that's maybe not as true." | "But then I realise that that's maybe not as true." |
| 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. |
| People gathered outside Bute House while Ms Sturgeon made her statement | People gathered outside Bute House while Ms Sturgeon made her statement |
| "We are at a critical moment," she said. "The blocking of a referendum as the accepted, constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage. | "We are at a critical moment," she said. "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. |
| 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. |
| This is a bombshell which will send shockwaves through Scottish politics. | |
| That's not just because Nicola Sturgeon has been a key figure for so long - an MSP since the Scottish parliament was opened in 1999, and its longest-serving first minister. | |
| It's also because her government stands at a pivotal moment in the pursuit of the SNP's founding goal, of Scottish independence. The party is holding a special conference next month to decide how it should move the issue on, in light of the UK government's refusal to engage with plans for a referendum. | |
| And frankly, with no clear successors waiting in the wings, if Ms Sturgeon isn't running the independence campaign, it's not clear who will be placed to call the shots. | |
| The first minister had come under significant pressure in recent weeks over her government's gender reforms. | |
| But she has been so dominant in Scottish politics for so long that this still feels like it has come completely out of the blue. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said the intensity and "brutality" of life as a politician had taken its toll on her, and those around her. | Ms Sturgeon said the intensity and "brutality" of life as a politician had taken its toll on her, and those around her. |
| The first minister said leading the country through the Covid pandemic had been "by far the toughest thing I've done" and that she had only recently started to comprehend its physical and mental impact. | The first minister said leading the country through the Covid pandemic had been "by far the toughest thing I've done" and that she had only recently started to comprehend its physical and mental impact. |
| Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the first minister had led Scotland through some of the most "challenging times" in recent history. | Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the first minister had led Scotland through some of the most "challenging times" in recent history. |
| He said: "It is right that today we pay tribute to those achievements, particularly during the pandemic. | He said: "It is right that today we pay tribute to those achievements, particularly during the pandemic. |
| "Regardless of our differences, she is an able politician who has stood at the forefront of Scottish politics for more than 20 years." | "Regardless of our differences, she is an able politician who has stood at the forefront of Scottish politics for more than 20 years." |
| Nicola Sturgeon in Bute House after the press conference | Nicola Sturgeon in Bute House after the press conference |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked Ms Sturgeon "for her long-standing service". | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked Ms Sturgeon "for her long-standing service". |
| Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross MSP said: "Whatever our differences, it is right we recognise that political leadership is always demanding and takes its toll on a person and their family." | Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross MSP said: "Whatever our differences, it is right we recognise that political leadership is always demanding and takes its toll on a person and their family." |
| But he added that Ms Sturgeon had "presided over a decade of division and decay in Scotland". | But he added that Ms Sturgeon had "presided over a decade of division and decay in Scotland". |
| Alex Salmond, who now leads the Alba party, said he felt for Ms Sturgeon personally - but that there was no obvious successor and no clear strategy for independence. | Alex Salmond, who now leads the Alba party, said he felt for Ms Sturgeon personally - but that there was no obvious successor and no clear strategy for independence. |
| Former SNP MP Stephen Gethins said Ms Sturgeon had "led with distinction", while SNP MP Stewart McDonald described the first minister as "the finest public servant of the devolution age". | Former SNP MP Stephen Gethins said Ms Sturgeon had "led with distinction", while 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 Ms Sturgeon of waiting too long to push that case. | But it is controversial. Some senior figures accept it won't work - others have accused Ms 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) |