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Nicola Sturgeon to run for SNP leader job Nicola Sturgeon to run for SNP leader job
(35 minutes later)
Nicola Sturgeon will launch her bid to replace Alex Salmond as SNP leader and first minister of Scotland, making clear she still backs independence. Nicola Sturgeon has launched her bid to replace Alex Salmond as SNP leader and first minister of Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon, currently her party's deputy leader, will make her move after Mr Salmond's decision to stand down following the referendum "No" vote. Speaking in Glasgow, Ms Sturgeon said she was "more convinced than ever" that Scotland would one day be independent.
It will trigger a contest for the deputy leadership, but she will not adopt any candidate as a running mate. But she also expressed her willingness to work with the Smith commission to boost Holyrood's powers.
Ms Sturgeon will also pay tribute to Mr Salmond at her campaign launch. Mr Salmond announced he was stepping down in the wake of Scots rejecting independence in last Thursday's referendum.
The MSP for Glasgow Southside, who is the clear favourite to succeed Mr Salmond, may not even face a contest. Ms Sturgeon, who is currently the SNP's deputy leader and Scotland's deputy first minister, is the clear favourite to Mr Salmond, and may not even face a contest.
In setting out her leadership plans, she will make clear she continues to support independence. Confirming her bid, she said: "To be the first minister of my country, especially at this exciting and optimistic time, would be both a great honour - without doubt, the greatest honour - and an immense responsibility.
But she will also express her willingness to work with the Smith commission to boost Holyrood's powers. "I am putting myself forward for two simple reasons: I want to serve my Party and my country. And I believe I am the best person for the job.
"I also hope that my candidacy, should it succeed, will send a strong message to every girl and young woman in Scotland - no matter your background or what you want to achieve in life, in Scotland in 2014 there is no glass ceiling on ambition."
Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondentGlenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent
She has been Alex Salmond's deputy for a decade.She has been Alex Salmond's deputy for a decade.
They stood together for the top two leadership positions in the SNP in 2004 and their partnership has endured ever since.They stood together for the top two leadership positions in the SNP in 2004 and their partnership has endured ever since.
But Nicola Sturgeon wants to be seen as her own person, with her own ideas, rather than an imitation Alex Salmond.But Nicola Sturgeon wants to be seen as her own person, with her own ideas, rather than an imitation Alex Salmond.
She is the clear favourite to succeed him, having already been endorsed by most of the Cabinet, and may not face a challenge.She is the clear favourite to succeed him, having already been endorsed by most of the Cabinet, and may not face a challenge.
Any party member wishing to take her on has three weeks to find 100 nominations from at least 20 different branches.Any party member wishing to take her on has three weeks to find 100 nominations from at least 20 different branches.
In announcing her intention to stand down as deputy leader, Ms Sturgeon has triggered an election for that post which is likely to be contested.In announcing her intention to stand down as deputy leader, Ms Sturgeon has triggered an election for that post which is likely to be contested.
The winners will be chosen in a postal ballot of all 52,000 party members, with the results to be announced at the SNP conference in Perth at midday on 13 November. The winners of the leader and deputy leader contests will be chosen in a postal ballot of all 52,000 party members, with the results to be announced at the SNP conference in Perth at midday on 13 November.
Ms Sturgeon will not offer any potential deputy a joint ticket, which is the first sign of her doing things a little differently from Mr Salmond.Ms Sturgeon will not offer any potential deputy a joint ticket, which is the first sign of her doing things a little differently from Mr Salmond.
Ms Sturgeon will also pay tribute to Mr Salmond, whom she regards as her mentor, and will pledge to hold the UK parties to account on their "vow" of delivering more powers to Scotland's devolved parliament. Paying tribute to Mr Salmond, whom she regards as her mentor, Ms Sturgeon said: "Alex Salmond transformed the SNP and as first minister he has made Scotland a better place. He also helped to make me the person and politician I am today."
Almost every member of the Scottish cabinet has publicly backed Ms Sturgeon to replace Mr Salmond as SNP leader and first minister. But she also stressed her intention to chart her own course as leader, and stressed that a "different approach" was required after the referendum.
She said: "His are big boots to fill, but if given the opportunity to lead, I will wear my own shoes - and they will certainly have higher heels. I will be my own person and set my own course.
"We would not have come so far as a nation without Alex's vision, tenacity and statesmanship.
"But the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow require a different approach. They will demand the ability, not just to argue a case with determination and conviction, but also to reach out, to work with others and seek common cause on the issues that unite us."
She pledged to hold the UK parties to account on their "vow" of delivering more powers to Scotland's devolved parliament.
But she conceded that the "Yes" campaign had lost the referendum, and that independence could only be achieved at the ballot box.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I believe as strongly today as I did last week that independence is the best future for Scotland. And I am more convinced than ever that we will become an independent country. But that will happen only when the people of Scotland choose that course in the polling booth.
"I accept that last week the majority did not choose that future at this time. 1.6 million people is a remarkable number - but it wasn't enough.
"So my task will be to lead Scotland into an exciting new chapter in our national story. To unite our nation around a common purpose so that we can write that story together - and do so in a way that lives up to the hopes, aspirations and expectations of a country that is, on both sides, engaged, inspired and empowered by the referendum experience."
Party members
Ms Sturgeon will campaign under the banner: "Moving Scotland forward".
A contest will also be held for the deputy leadership, but she will not adopt any candidate as a running mate.
Almost every member of the Scottish cabinet has publicly backed Ms Sturgeon's candidacy.
Any party member wishing to stand against her has three weeks - until 16:00 on 15 October - to declare. A valid nomination needs to be endorsed by 100 party members from at least 20 local branches.Any party member wishing to stand against her has three weeks - until 16:00 on 15 October - to declare. A valid nomination needs to be endorsed by 100 party members from at least 20 local branches.
The contest will be decided by a ballot of all party members, with papers to be sent out on 22 October. They will need to be returned by 12 November.The contest will be decided by a ballot of all party members, with papers to be sent out on 22 October. They will need to be returned by 12 November.
The result will be announced at the SNP conference in Perth at midday on Thursday 13 November.The result will be announced at the SNP conference in Perth at midday on Thursday 13 November.
The deputy leadership race, the probable outcome of which much less clear, will run to the same timetable.The deputy leadership race, the probable outcome of which much less clear, will run to the same timetable.
The 26,000 new members the SNP has recruited since the independence referendum will be entitled to vote, as long as they signed up before Wednesday.The 26,000 new members the SNP has recruited since the independence referendum will be entitled to vote, as long as they signed up before Wednesday.
Ms Sturgeon's appointment as Scotland's first minister would need to be approved by a vote of parliament, but would be ensured by the SNP's parliamentary majority.Ms Sturgeon's appointment as Scotland's first minister would need to be approved by a vote of parliament, but would be ensured by the SNP's parliamentary majority.
Meanwhile, the SNP now claims to be the third largest party in the UK, after the party said its membership stood at more than 50,000, which it said overtook the figure for the Liberal Democrats UK-wide, reported to be 43,451.Meanwhile, the SNP now claims to be the third largest party in the UK, after the party said its membership stood at more than 50,000, which it said overtook the figure for the Liberal Democrats UK-wide, reported to be 43,451.