Nicola Sturgeon resigns – live: Tearful Scottish first minister says ‘politics is brutal’ as she quits
SNP leader has announced she will stand down as first minister of Scotland after eight years
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Your support makes all the difference.Nicola Sturgeon lamented the “brutal” nature of politics as she announced her resignation as first minister after more than eight years in the job.
The outgoing FM insisted that recent “pressures” on trans rights issues had no role to play in her decision to resign.
The SNP leader said she was “confident” of leading her party to further electoral success but that the time was “right” for her to step aside.
Speaking at a news conference in Edinburgh earlier, Ms Sturgeon said: “In my head and in my heart I know that the time is now, that it’s right for me, for my party and my country.”
She had been heavily criticsed by some in her own party over her stance on transgender issues and her handling of the Isla Bryson case.
Ms Sturgeon had also come under fire for saying that her party would fight the next general election as a de-facto referendum on Scottish independence, an issue she said the SNP was now “free” to decide following her exit.
Sunak pays tribute to outgoing FM
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has thanked Nicola Sturgeon "for her long-standing” public service.
“I wish her all the best for her next steps,” he said.
“We will continue to work closely with the @scotgov on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland.”
Ian Blackford pays tribute to ‘finest FM Scotland has had'
Ian Blackford, Scottish MP and former leader of the SNP in Westminster, has said Nicola Sturgeon is the “finest first minster Scotland has ever had”.
“Nicola Sturgeon is the finest First Minster Scotland has ever had, and the finest friend anyone could hope for,” he tweeted.
“When Scotland wins independence, she will have been its architect and builder. She has laid the foundations we all now stand on.
“We owe it to her to finish the job.”
SNP MP calls for ‘reform and headling’ of party
SNP MP Joanna Cherry has called for “reform and healing” in her party, asking for it to react to the resignation of Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon in “a way that is beneficial to the country and the cause of independence”.
“It is vital that (the SNP) reacts to the resignation of #NicolaSturgeon in a way that is beneficial to the country and the cause of independence,” the MP for Edinburgh South West tweeted.
“Our party needs a leadership election that is about policies and not personalities.
“We must restore the SNP’s tradition of internal party democracy, open respectful debate and intellectual rigour and we must also put the welfare of everyone living in Scotland back at the heart of our endeavours.
“There are some huge challenges facing our country and our government. There is also a need for reform and healing within our party. I’m looking forward to playing my role in this process.”
FM - I won’t comment on successor
Scotland’s first minister said she would not give an opinion on who she wanted to succeed her as SNP leader.
Taking questions from reporters after announcing her intention to step down, Nicola Sturgeon said: “This is a question that no matter how many times you ask it of me over the next few weeks, no matter how many inventive ways you find of asking it, I’m not going to say who my preference will be to succeed me.
“What I do know is that the SNP is awash with talented individuals.
“One of the things I’ve often reflected on is that when a political party, any political party in any country, has very dominant individuals, others – through no fault of the dominant individual, I should say, and often not through want of trying – become eclipsed.
“So what I’m looking forward to, and I think the country will enjoy over these next few weeks, is seeing that talent and seeing that array of talent.”
She added: “I believe I have led this country closer to independence, I believe we are in the final phase of that journey.
“I believe that my successor, whoever he or she may be, will lead Scotland to independence, and I’ll be there cheering him or her on every step of the way.”
Why has Nicola Sturgeon resigned?
Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation, saying that “in my head and in my heart I know that the time is now”.
She insisted that recent “short-term pressures” played no role in her departure.
So why did she resign? Our politics correspondent Adam Forrest reports:
Why has Nicola Sturgeon resigned?
‘Short-term pressures’ not the reason for quitting, says SNP leader
Analysis shows absence of levelling up in council funding
Large disparities in the core spending power of councils in the poorest and wealthiest areas caused by previous austerity measures have only marginally narrowed in the last two years, new analysis shows.
Data shared exclusively with the PA news agency shows that a reliance on council tax to fund frontline services continues to provide financial protection for local authorities in prosperous areas, raising questions over the Government’s levelling up agenda.
Jonathan Bunn reports:
Analysis shows absence of levelling up in council funding
Research reveals only a slight recent narrowing of the gap in resources available to local authorities in the poorest and wealthiest areas.
Could a new Brexit deal really end the Northern Ireland protocol saga?
The DUP is undeterred in its opposition to the protocol, writes Sean O’Grady.
Read Sean’s full piece here:
Could a deal with the EU really end the Northern Ireland protocol saga?
The DUP is undeterred in its opposition to the protocol, writes Sean O’Grady
Ukraine may not get UK fighter jets for years, says Ben Wallace
Defence secretary Ben Wallace has said it could be years before the UK gives any fighter jets to Ukraine.
The cabinet minister suggested it was likely that president Volodymyr Zelensky may even have
Our politics correspondent Adam Forrest reports:
Ukraine may not get UK fighter jets for years, says Ben Wallace
Defence secretary suggests British planes won’t go to Kyiv during war – and dismisses reports UK too weak to take over Nato force ‘just b*****ks’
Workers could be denied sick notes in bid to boost economy
The government could tell doctors to sign fewer sick people off work as part of a bid to boost the flagging performance of Britain’s economy.
People deemed ill enough to get a sick note would instead be “helped” to remain in work under plans reported by The Telegraph and under consideration in Whitehall.
Ministers, including chancellor Jeremy Hunt, have voiced concerns about increasing levels of economic inactivity in the economy – as well as the number of people signed off work with long-term conditions.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more below:
Workers could be denied sick notes in bid to boost economy
Government concerned by rise in long-term sickness since pandemic
Sturgeon’s husband must quit as SNP chief exec, says MP
SNP MP Joanna Cherry has called for a “neutral caretaker” to take over as chief executive from Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell.
Ms Cherry tweeted: “I cannot see any circumstances in which Peter Murrell can continue as chief executive under a new leader who must be free to choose a successor. Meantime we need a neutral caretaker CEO.”
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