Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed her ‘intention’ to resign as First Minister, staying in office until her successor is elected. She said she had been wrestling with the decision for ‘some weeks’.
Sturgeon sounded emotional as she opened by saying First Minister was ‘the best job in the world’ and a privilege that had ‘sustained’ her. She explained that ‘part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else’, and that she knew that this time had come now. ‘Be in no doubt, this is really hard for me. My decision comes from a place of duty and love,’ she added. Her reasons for quitting did not include a ‘reaction to short-term issues’, a coded reference to the row over Isla Bryson and gender recognition reform.
Sturgeon has not achieved Scottish independence, and has serious questions to answer on health and education
She said she had considered whether continuing was the right thing for the independence movement, a question that has been increasingly asked by those within the movement, as well as its critics.
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