'The time is now': Nicola Sturgeon announces plan to resign

Ms Sturgeon has instructed the SNP to begin the process of electing a new leader and will remain in office until her successor is chosen

Nicola Sturgeon stands down without realising her key political mission – independence for Scotland. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will stand down after eight years as First Minister, arguing that resigning is the best step for herself, her party and for Scotland.

In a shock announcement, the SNP leader told a press conference on Wednesday that she believes the “time is now” to stand aside but denied she is reacting to “short-term pressures” after a series of political setbacks.

The longest serving – and first female – First Minister said from her residence at Bute House in Edinburgh that she will remain in office while the SNP selects her successor.

“Since my very first moments in the job I have believed a part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else,” she said.

In my head and in my heart I know that time is now, that it’s right for me, for my party and my country.” 

Ms Sturgeon, who guided the nation through the coronavirus pandemic and led the SNP to repeated election victories at UK, Scottish and local level, acknowledged the “physical and mental impact” of the role.

“If the question is can I battle on for another few months then the answer is yes, of course I can,” the 52-year-old said.

“But if the question is can I give this job everything it demands and deserves for another year, let alone for the remainder of this parliamentary term, give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that I have strived to do every day for the last eight years, the answer honestly is different.”

Ms Sturgeon will leave office as the longest serving and first female First Minister since the creation of the Scottish Parliament Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The First Minister has suffered a series of political setbacks in recent months as her Government sought to push through gender reforms, only for them to be blocked by Westminster.

She insisted the row surrounding a transgender double rapist being sent to a women’s jail “wasn’t the final straw” but said it is “time for someone else” to lead the party.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledged the “choppy waters” but insisted her resignation was not in response to the “latest period of pressure”.

“This decision comes from a deeper and longer-term assessment,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon rose to power unopposed after the ill-fated independence referendum in 2014, taking over from Alex Salmond, the mentor with whom she would come into conflict in the years to come over the handling of sexual harassment allegations made against him.

Her surprise exit led political commentators to draw parallels with the sudden resignation last month of Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s prime minister.

Ms Sturgeon had planned to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence, but her exit now raises questions about the immediate future of the cause itself.

But she vowed to continue in politics and said her life-long cause of independence is “being won”.

Nicola Sturgeon rose to power unopposed after the ill-fated independence referendum in 2014, taking over from Alex Salmond.

Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary in the UK Government, said Ms Sturgeon had been a “formidable politician”.

But he added: “Her resignation presents a welcome opportunity for the Scottish Government to change course, and to drop its divisive obsession with independence.

“I want to see a Scottish Government that works hand in hand with the UK Government to realise our full potential as a country.” 

Keir Starmer will also be closely following the next steps as the rise of the SNP to the detriment of Labour has played a role in keeping the party out of power in Westminster.

Ms Sturgeon indicated she will continue on the backbenches as an MSP “until, certainly, the next election” for Holyrood, which is due in 2026.

She described being First Minister as “the privilege of my life”, adding: “Nothing, absolutely nothing, I do in future will ever come anywhere close.” 

Among those paying tribute to Ms Sturgeon was potential successor, and Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf who said he was “gutted” to see her standing down.

However, SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who has clashed with Ms Sturgeon particularly over gender issues, called for “reform and healing” in their party.

“Our party needs a leadership election that is about policies and not personalities,” she said.

“We must restore the SNP’s tradition of internal party democracy, open respectful debate and intellectual rigour and we must also put the welfare of everyone living in Scotland back at the heart of our endeavours.” 

Potential candidates to succeed Ms Sturgeon include External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson; Secretary for Finance and Economy Kate Forbes; and deputy first minister John Swinney.

Sturgeon resignation: Possible candidates to be new 

When Nicola Sturgeon was appointed First Minister, she appointed John Swinney as her deputy in 2014.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will stand down as First Minister of Scotland after eight years, it has been confirmed.

There are several possible candidates that could become the new SNP leader, such as the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney.

When Nicola Sturgeon was appointed First Minister, she appointed Mr Swinney as her deputy in 2014.

He previously served as Finance Secretary from 2007 to 2016 and the Education Secretary from 2016 to 2021.

Another potential candidate is the current Health and Social Care Secretary, Humza Yousaf.

Mr Yousaf was appointed in May 2021 and was the youngest MSP elected to the Scottish Parliament at age 26.

He has served in numerous roles and in 2018, he was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

He introduced the Hate Crime Bill, which caused controversy among opposition parties.

Kate Forbes delivered the 2020 Scottish Budget, becoming the first woman to do so.

Kate Forbes is also in the running. She has served as the Secretary for Finance and Economy since 2021.

She was elected to Parliament in 2016 and was a convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on Gaelic.

In 2020, following the resignation of Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, she delivered the 2020 Scottish Budget, becoming the first woman to do so.