Today Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister of Scotland after serving 8 years, one of the longest tenures of it’s First Minister role.
Nicola Sturgeon is a Scottish politician who has been serving as the First Minister of Scotland since November 2014. She is the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which is the governing party in Scotland. Sturgeon has been a member of the Scottish Parliament since its inception in 1999 and has held several high-profile positions in the Scottish Government, including serving as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
Sturgeon is known for her advocacy of Scottish independence and has been a key figure in the movement to hold a second referendum on the issue. She has also been vocal in her support for progressive policies, including action on climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality.
Before entering politics, Sturgeon worked as a solicitor and was involved in grassroots activism within the SNP. She was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, representing the Glasgow region. Over the years, she has built a reputation as a skilled politician and an effective communicator.
Since she originally assumed the position in 2014, Ms. Sturgeon has maintained the view that “part of serving well” is recognising the appropriate moment to step away.
Ms. Sturgeon stated when speaking at Bute House in Edinburgh: “I believe in my head and in my heart that the moment is right for me, for my party, and for the nation.
I am therefore announcing today that I will be stepping down as First Minister and party leader.”
The SNP has been instructed to start the process of electing a new party leader, and Ms. Sturgeon stated that she “shall remain in office until my successor is elected.”
She stated that she believes there is currently a majority of a call for Scottish independence but that support “needs to be solidified”.
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