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Nicola Sturgeon says the time is ‘right‘ to go as she announces resignation

15 Feb 2023 4 minute read
Nicola Sturgeon leaves after a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh . Photo Jane Barlow PA Images

Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will stand down after eight years as First Minister, arguing that resigning is the best step for herself, her party and for Scotland.

In a shock announcement, the SNP leader told a press conference on Wednesday that she believes it is the “time is now” to stand aside but denied she is reacting to “short-term pressures” after a series of political setbacks.

The longest serving – and first female – First Minister said from her residence at Bute House in Edinburgh that she will remain in office while the SNP select her successor.

“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.

“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.”

Mental impact

Ms Sturgeon, who guided the nation through the coronavirus pandemic and led the SNP to repeated election victories at UK, Scottish and local level, acknowledged the “physical and mental impact” of the role.

“If the question is can I battle on for another few months then the answer is yes, of course I can,” the 52-year-old said.

“But if the question is can I give this job everything it demands and deserves for another year. let alone for the remainder of this parliamentary term, give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that I have strived to do every day for the last eight years, the answer honestly is different.”

The First Minister has suffered a series of political setbacks in recent months as her Government sought to push through gender reforms, only for them to be blocked by Westminster.

She insisted the row surrounding a transgender double rapist being sent to a women’s jail “wasn’t the final straw” but said it is “time for someone else” to lead the party.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledged the “choppy waters” but insisted her resignation was not in response to the “latest period of pressure”.

“This decision comes from a deeper and longer term assessment,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon rose to power unopposed after the ill-fated independence referendum in 2014, taking over from Alex Salmond, the mentor with whom she would come into conflict in the years to come over the handling of sexual harassment allegations made against him.

Surprise exit

Her surprise exit led political commentators to draw parallels with the sudden resignation last month of Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s prime minister.

Ms Sturgeon had planned to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence, but her exit now raises questions about the immediate future of the cause itself.

But she vowed to continue in politics and said her life-long cause of independence is “being won”.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price called Ms Sturgeon a “once in a generation politician, driven by a deep and unwavering passion for her country and duty to public service”.

Mr Price thanked the SNP Leader for the “Scottish hand of friendship” that was always extended to Wales and noted Plaid Cymru and the SNP’s joint desire to “create a better future free from Westminster rule”.

Thanking her for her “exemplary service to Scotland”, the Plaid Cymru Leader said that Ms Sturgeon’s legacy would be Scottish independence and that her tenure would always be “historic”.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts said Nicola Sturgeon has led Scotland “with indefatigable strength, compassion and intellect”.

“Scotland is a better place thanks to Nicola Sturgeon – a generation of Scots feeling more engaged with their democracy thanks to her leadership I want to thank her personally for the kindness she showed me on the occasions we met, and for having inspired so many women in Wales,” she added.

Formidable

Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary in the UK Government, said Ms Sturgeon had been a “formidable politician”.

But he added: “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.”

Sir Keir Starmer will also be closely following the next steps as the rise of the SNP to the detriment of Labour has played a role in keeping the party out of power in Westminster.

Ms Sturgeon indicated she will continue on the backbenches as an MSP “until, certainly, the next election” for Holyrood, which is due in 2026.


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hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

She may have had instances of flawed judgements but she is by far the best of the bunch as far as Scotland and the rest of the British Isles are concerned since she took on that role. Her determination to take things forward gave her stature way beyond her physical presence. Our bigger men would do well to draw lessons from her in how to conduct their political campaigns and their day to day political business.

Wynn
Wynn
1 year ago

Glad she has gone. Might have had some popularity but really fractured the independence movement. Set us back years.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago
Reply to  Wynn

Claptrap! She’s led the SNP to unparalleled electoral success and no one has done more to keep the cause of scottish independence at the forefront of politics following the defeat in the 2014 referendum.

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
Doctor Trousers
Doctor Trousers
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Absolutely Leigh. What’s fractured the independence movement is people who should know better, having their strings pulled by manufactured culture war b******s.
In ten years or so time, when it becomes clear that the collapse of civilisation didn’t come about just because we made it slightly easier to choose if it says M or F on a handful of official documents, history will look kindly on Nicola Sturgeon.

Glen
Glen
1 year ago

She’ll be remembered mostly for not delivering an independence referendum after 9 years of broken promises.

Doctor Trousers
Doctor Trousers
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

And how should she have gone about delivering that, Glen?

Glen
Glen
1 year ago

You should ask her she was the one constantly promising one.
comment image?w=460&ssl=1

CapM
CapM
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

Where does that image you’ve used of a collection of front pages of The National come from?

Glen
Glen
1 year ago
Reply to  CapM
David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

The most accessed & read blog as compared to ALL other Scottish independence blogs.

CapM
CapM
1 year ago
Reply to  Glen

Diolch
Reading the vitriolic comments on there it’s often difficult to tell if they’ve been written by Scottish or British Nationalists.
Also a significant number seem to be from Scottish Nationalists who are in search of a “Messiah” like leader to covert those who don’t want independence.

Wynn
Wynn
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Seriously Leigh, I have voted for this party for years giving her nine mandates. People seem to confuse popularity with competence these days it’s not – look at the last three PMs. And she didn’t lead the SNP to unparalleled electoral success 45pc of those votes were guaranteed – I voted for them (and thus her) even though I don’t agree with half their policies. She has destroyed the unity and mood of the independence movement with her ‘my way or the highway’ approach. Her tactics have been abysmal missing chance after chance to get us over the winning line,… Read more »

CapM
CapM
1 year ago
Reply to  Wynn

 “the unity and mood of the independence movement” That’s a myth. An independence movement is a coalition, the only thing in common is or should be the aim of attaining independence. If gender identity politics caused a decrease in support for Sturgeon/ SNP it’s on them and they are responsible if it lost support for independence then it’s not down to NS/SNP, it’s the electorate that’s to blame. Soft support which you can be sure will be exploited by the UK with another issue in the future. “Broken promises like We will not allow Scotland to be dragged out of… Read more »

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

1000% Yes.

Wynn
Wynn
1 year ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

Hello Dai – have a look at the figures we got 45pc Yes in 2014 latest figures 37pc The woman is a disaster politically and good with the press. actually she is a political coward. All of her big successes have been low cost virtuous projects that no one could complain about. Her predecessor made massive improvements to our infrastructure roads, bridges, removal of tolls all within budget, since then we’ve had failed policies that invade people’s lives but sound good to the press. Her real success was the Covid 29 carry on where she looked better than the UK… Read more »

lufcwls
lufcwls
1 year ago
Reply to  Wynn

What? Are you serious?!

Doctor Trousers
Doctor Trousers
1 year ago

“Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price called Ms Sturgeon a “once in a generation politician” ”
Please don’t say “once in a generation”, you’ll have the unionists insisting that the SNP have to wait 20 years until they’re allowed to elect another leader…..

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

So you think Unionists heed anything that Price says ?

Doctor Trousers
Doctor Trousers
1 year ago
Reply to  hdavies15

it’s just a wee joke about how the unionists have repeated the phrase “once in a generation” ad nauseam ever since Alex Salmond referred to the first indy referendum as a “once in a generation opportunity”

CJPh
CJPh
1 year ago

As much as this was intended as a joke, good doctor, I think there’s some truth to it. The incautious language, tactical ineptitude and continued adherence to a political system they purportedly want to leave is what has led to the fracturing of the indy movement. It’s not dead yet (there’s plenty to be very hopeful about), but the ‘party politics’ approach seems not to be the way. From Ireland to Czechoslovakia, Poland to India, there are blueprints to follow: centre the movement around the philosophical rather than the political, don’t allow internal political angst to the surface until AT… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

I think this is the right decision by Nicola Sturgeon. She’s been a superb First Minister for Scotland but it’s now time for a fresh face and new impetus to take the independence fight to the backward centrist Conservative idiocracy in London.

Dai Ponty
Dai Ponty
1 year ago

The vile london tory press have ridiculed her and put vicious things in their newspapers about her they have been doing a hatchet job on her i do not need to mention the 3 Tory supporting rags we all know who they are

Gareth Westacott
Gareth Westacott
1 year ago

Seems to me that she sacrificed Scottish independence on the altar of Trans ideology.

George Thomas
George Thomas
1 year ago

If yes, then history will judge her kindly. Sacrificing group of people currently victims of high levels of prejudice and being put at heart of culture war by those without any other ideas in order to win votes…well that would be a very Westminster move.

Independence is meant to deliver grown-up politics away from ills of current political systems. We’re not meant to just be a muddy and wet version of what’s already existing.

Robert
Robert
1 year ago
Reply to  George Thomas

True, but independence must come first, everything else can be sorted out afterwards.

CapM
CapM
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert

“everything else can be sorted out afterwards.”

Which logically means nothing can be sorted out before.

I don’t think you believe that but who gets to decide what should/has to be sorted out before.
You can bet that Unionist politics, media etc will ensure that they have as much say in that as possible. And that will include issues that we personally sympathise with or don’t.

A way to avoid this interference is for those who support independence to make it clear that –
They will not use their support for independence to bargain with pro-independence politicians and parties.

Doctor Trousers
Doctor Trousers
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert

“everything else can be sorted out afterwards”
So the Scottish government aren’t supposed to do any governing until after independence?

George Thomas
George Thomas
1 year ago

The strength and weakness of independence movement is that it reaches people across the traditional political divide because both left and right have reasons to want it.

Scotland has lost a good, but really not great, left-leaning politician who believes in independence and was on route to delivering it.

The right had won and those who want Scotland to be chained to a failing, backwards looking unionist party in Westminster (be that Tories or potentially where Labour is going) have won.

Some will claim that recent headlines have lead to this. How terribly sad is that?

Last edited 1 year ago by George Thomas

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