Nicola Sturgeon resignation as it happened: Nicola Sturgeon resigns as first minister - RECAP
Ms Sturgeon will leave office as the longest serving and first female First Minister since the creation of the Scottish Parliament, a time which saw her lead the SNP to repeated election victories at UK, Scottish and local level.
In a shock announcement on Wednesday, the SNP leader said she believes the “time is now” to stand aside but denied reacting to “short-term pressures” after a series of political setbacks.
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Hide Ad“Since my very first moments in the job I have believed a part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else,” she said from her residence at Bute House in Edinburgh.
“In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it’s right for me, for my party and my country.”
The succession and timeline of the resignation as well as the successor of the first minister has not yet been made clear, however we will bring you live updates throughout the day in our live blog.
Nicola Sturgeon resigns as Scotland’s first minister - RECAP
Scottish Health and Social Care Secretary Humza Yousaf, a potential candidate to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader, has said he is “gutted” to see her standing down.
“Gutted (Ms Sturgeon) is standing down, but I know hard she has reflected on this decision,” he tweeted.
“I have had enormous pleasure of being in her Govt for the time she has been (First Minister), and I can safely say she has always put interests of the Country first, and governed for all of Scotland.
“She is right, politics can be brutal, it impacts on our relationships, our families and of course on our own physical and mental health.
“I hope the FM gets to experience some kind of normality upon standing down, she certainly deserves it.
“From leading our response to the pandemic to leading the independence movement to new heights, and many achievements in-between, (Ms Sturgeon) should be very proud of what she has achieved as First Minister. I am proud to call her my friend. #ThankYouNicola”
Taking a quick break from Nicola Sturgeon - Sir Keir Starmer has for the first time unequivocally barred his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election as he invited his critics to leave the party.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has thanked Nicola Sturgeon “for her long-standing service”, adding on Twitter: “We will continue to work closely with the @scotgov on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland.”
SNP MP Joanna Cherry has called for “reform and healing” in her party, asking for it to react to the resignation of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in “a way that is beneficial to the country and the cause of independence”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross MSP said Nicola Sturgeon “refused to accept the result” of the 2014 independence referendum and said her tenure as First Minister was marked with “relentless agitating” for another referendum.
He 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.
“I am 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.
“Instead of trying to unite the country in the wake of the 2014 referendum, Nicola Sturgeon refused to accept the result. Her entire tenure as First Minister has been characterised by relentless agitating for another vote on separation – governing in her party’s interests, rather than Scotland’s.
“As a result, Scotland has been in a state of constitutional paralysis ever since – divided and unable to move on from the Groundhog Day of 2014 and its toxic legacy, despite the wish of the majority of Scots to do just that.
“The SNP Government now needs to use this opportunity to focus on the Scottish people’s real priorities, especially the cost-of-living crisis, supporting our NHS and rebuilding our public services.”
What did Nicola Sturgeon say on independence in her resignation speech?
She stated: “Individual polls come and go, but I am firmly of the view that there is now majority support for independence.
“But that support needs to be solidified – and it needs to grow further if our independent Scotland is to have the best possible foundation.
“To achieve that we must reach across the divide in Scottish politics.
“And my judgment now is that a new leader will be better able to do this.”
Former prime ministers Theresa May and Gordon Brown have paid tribute to Nicola Sturgeon.
Mrs May tweeted: “We disagree on many issues but I’d like to thank you Nicola Sturgeon for your long, tireless service to our country and for the professional relationship we maintained as leaders.
“I can assure you that there is plenty of scope to contribute from the backbenches.”
Mr Brown said: “I want to join others in thanking Nicola Sturgeon
for her work as Scotland’s First Minister and wish her well in what she does in the future.”
Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar hailed Nicola Sturgeon as a “true European”.
The Taoiseach said: “I pay tribute to Nicola Sturgeon following her decision to stand down as First Minister of Scotland.
“I had the pleasure to work with Nicola through the British Irish Council and met her on a number of occasions.
“I also welcomed her to Government Buildings in Ireland during my first tenure as Taoiseach.
“I always found Nicola a very warm person, articulate and thoughtful, and a very capable politician, who showed huge commitment to her country. She was also a true European.
“I wish Nicola and her family the very best for the future.”
Nicola Sturgeon leaves “no clear strategy for independence” as she stands down as Scotland’s First Minister, her predecessor Alex Salmond said.
Her one-time mentor turned political enemy said he “feels for” the SNP leader as she announced her resignation from the post on Wednesday.
Mr Salmond said: “There has been no question of Nicola’s talents as a first-rate political communicator and election winner and – having been there – I feel for her personally on the day of her resignation.
“There are two questions for the future.
“One is that the movement has been left with no clear strategy for independence. The previously accepted referendum route has been closed and the de facto referendum/election proposal is now, at best, up in the air.
“Secondly, there is no obvious successor. There are a range of able people in the SNP but they will now be tested in the fire of leadership, inheriting a range of serious Government policy challenges.
“It is to be hoped that those voices which wish to reunite the national movement emerge to win that contest.”