Nicola Sturgeon launches bid for SNP leadership after Scottish Independence No vote and Alex Salmond resignation
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s deputy first minister, has launched a bid to become the next leader of the Scottish National Party following the resignation of Alex Salmond.
Sturgeon announced her intention to run for the leadership of the party, of which she is also currently the deputy leader, in Glasgow today.
Salmond said on Friday that he planned to stand down as SNP leader and First Minister after Scotland voted against independence in last week’s referendum.
Sturgeon, a well-respected Scottish minister, is odds-on favourite to succeed Salmond according to bookies She said she wanted to serve her party and her country and believed she was the best person for the job.
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.
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.