Farewell Nicola Sturgeon. The former first minister took to the professional platform that is Instagram today to announce that she will be stepping down as an MSP at the next election. After much speculation, the SNP’s ex-Dear Leader has confirmed that she does not plan to stand for Holyrood in 2026 – after spending more than a quarter of a century in the Scottish Parliament. Talk about a long slog, eh?
Writing on the social media platform today, Sturgeon told her faithful followers that:
I have decided not to seek re-election to the Scottish parliament next year. As members of the SNP in Glasgow Southside, I wanted you to be the first to know. Reaching this decision has been far from easy. However, I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life, and to allow you to select a new standard bearer.

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