Scotland first minister resign: Nicola Sturgeon has declared during a news conference that she will step down as Scotland’s first minister.
In an unexpected move, Scotland’s longest-serving first minister said that she had given the Scottish National Party (SNP) the go-ahead to start the process of picking a new leader and would hold onto her position until that time.
A double rapist was sentenced to a female prison after coming out as transgender, which caused a serious controversy and the UK supreme court to reject the SNP leader’s proposals for a new independence vote.
At the news conference on Wednesday at Bute House in Edinburgh, Sturgeon explained her decision and gave “as best as I can my reasoning,” adding: “First, though I know it would be tempting to interpret it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short-term demands. Of sure, the administration is currently dealing with challenging situations, but when is that ever not the case?
“I have been involved in politics for almost three decades, including about 15 years at the top or second-highest levels of government. I have enough of experience to draw from when it comes to navigating rough waters, overcoming problems that seem insurmountable, or pushing through when giving up would be the easier course of action.
“So if this were simply a matter of my capacity or fortitude to survive the most recent time of pressure, I wouldn’t be standing here today, but that’s not the case. This choice is the result of a more thorough and extensive evaluation. I am aware that it may appear sudden, but I have been struggling with it for a few weeks, albeit with varying degrees of intensity.
I’ve essentially been attempting to respond to two questions: is continuing right for me? And maybe more crucially, am I acting in the best interests of the nation, my party, and the cause of independence to which I have dedicated my life?
Though not so abruptly, there have been rising rumours that Sturgeon was preparing to step aside at the upcoming Scottish parliamentary election. She had frequently informed reporters that she had no intention of resigning and would continue to serve as the leader of the Scottish government and SNP until the 2025 Holyrood elections.
However, a number of polls have revealed that public support for Sturgeon personally, the SNP, and independence has declined recently, in part due to the significant controversy surrounding the rapist Isla Bryson.
It is still unknown whether Sturgeon will name a temporary leader or who might take her place.
One of the few senior people in her tight inner circle and her loyal deputy first minister, John Swinney, might enter the race. He has the most government and SNP experience after Sturgeon.
However, after Alex Salmond abruptly resigned as party leader in the early 2000s, Swinney briefly led the SNP. Swinney struggled and ultimately decided to step down so that Salmond could take over as leader.
Angus Robertson, a former SNP leader in Westminster and the Scottish Culture and External Affairs Secretary, will also be a popular choice. Along with Swinney, he has expertise managing SNP election campaigns and is one of the few survivors of the Salmond era. After pushing a change in SNP policy to support Scotland joining Nato prior to the 2014 independence referendum, he is unpopular with the left of the party.
The Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes, who is presently on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, might also be a contender. If the party elects her, Forbes will become the SNP’s youngest leader. She is well-liked within the party and highly esteemed at Holyrood.
However, people would question her about her religious convictions. She is an ardent member of the Free Church of Scotland, whose beliefs on homosexual rights and transgender policy run counter to several important SNP and Scottish government policies.
Another probable possibility is Humza Yousaf, a senior Muslim and BAME politician in Scotland. He is currently the health secretary, a crucial role in Sturgeon’s cabinet. Opposition parties have repeatedly called on him to resign due to ongoing problems with the NHS, particularly his failure to address delays in A&E waiting times.