Stephen Daisley Stephen Daisley

Why is Nicola Sturgeon resigning?

(Credit: Getty images)

Nicola Sturgeon is resigning as First Minister of Scotland. We don’t yet know when — or why. After eight years in the role, unchallenged the whole time, she has hit troubles recently over gender law reform, the placement of Isla Bryson, a rapist, in a women’s prison and Sturgeon’s failure to deliver a promised second referendum on independence.

If any of these is the reason for her departure, it would be odd as, although highly controversial, none has produced a rival for the crown. There is also a police investigation ongoing into a £667,000 independence fighting fund donated by supporters. (There is no suggestion Sturgeon has done anything illegal or improper.)

Her mentor turned enemy Alex Salmond left the SNP to form his own pro-independence party, but that has made almost no impact and the man himself is deeply unpopular.

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