Nicola Sturgeon quits as Scotland’s First Minister but insists resignation is ‘not a reaction to short-term pressures’
Nicola Sturgeon has resigned from her role as first minister of Scotland following a series of political setbacks.
Speaking in Edinburgh this morning, Sturgeon said serving as first minister had been a “privilege beyond measure” as she announced her resignation.
She confirmed she would stay in office until a replacement had been chosen and indicated she will continue on the backbenches as an MSP at Holyrood.
The first minister had faced growing pressure in recent months as her government sought to push through gender reforms, only for them to be blocked by Westminster, and suffered a defeat over independence in the Supreme Court.
She has also struggled to deal with the housing of transgender prisoners in women’s facilities after a double rapist was sent to a female jail.
But Sturgeon denied her decision to resign as First Minister of Scotland was “a reaction to short-term pressures”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he was: “Glad Nicola Sturgeon has recognised this is the right time to go.
“However at this time we cannot ignore that she has presided over a decade of division and decay in Scotland.”
Scotland secretary Alister Jack said the first minister was a “formidable politician”.
But he stressed: “Her resignation presents a welcome opportunity for the Scottish government to change course, and to drop its divisive obsession with independence.
“I want to see a Scottish government that works hand in hand with the UK government to realise our full potential as a country.”
Sturgeon said: “I am proud to stand here as the first female and longest serving incumbent of this office and I am very proud of what has been achieved in the years I’ve been blessed to do this.
“However, 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.
“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.”
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “Nicola has been an inspiration to myself and countless others for so long.
“A formidable leader and dedicated public servant, unmatched not just in Scotland but right across these isles. She has made Scotland a better place and for that I will always be thankful.”
The first minister said she had instructed the Scottish National Party (SNP) leadership to begin the process of electing a new leader and that she would “remain in office until my successor is elected”.
Announcing her resignation after eight years at the forefront of Scottish politics, Sturgeon, 52, said she was “a human being as well as a politician” and described the job as “hard” and “relentlessly so”.
Sturgeon said: “Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less.
“But in truth that can only be done by anyone for so long. For me, it is now in danger of becoming too long.”
She added: “A First Minister is never off duty, particularly in this day and age there is virtually no privacy.
Even ordinary stuff that most people take for granted like going for a coffee with friends or for a walk on your own becomes very difficult.”
Former Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford wrote on Twitter: “Nicola Sturgeon is the finest First Minster Scotland has ever had, and the finest friend anyone could hope for.
“When Scotland wins independence, she will have been its architect and builder. She has laid the foundations we all now stand on.”