We are almost there: on Monday, the SNP will appoint its new leader after five weeks of what will surely be remembered as the most controversial and consequential change of leadership in the short history of devolution.
Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation in February came as a surprise even to her closest allies. They knew the First Minister was closer to the end of her tenure than the start; it seemed likely she would find a way to avoid standing in the 2026 Scottish parliament election. But even those closest to her did not believe that, six weeks after she boldly told Laura Kuenssberg that ‘there’s plenty in the tank at the moment’ and that ‘for the avoidance of doubt I don’t feel anywhere near [the end] right now’, she would be answering her final set of First Minister’s Questions today.
This is not the election of a new leader; this is the election of a new party and a new government.
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