First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says time is right to stand down
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“In my head, and in my heart, I know that time is now” – Scotland’s longest serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has resigned.
It is the biggest political earthquake to hit the SNP since the Alex Salmond revelations. She made the announcement in the last few minutes at a press conference at Bute House, the official resident in Edinburgh.
Ms Sturgeon in an unusually personal statement where she referenced her family and friends including attending a funeral yesterday which she said confirmed her decision after “wrestling with it [the decision] for some weeks.”
She said: “Though I know it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short pressures. Of course, there are difficult issues confronting the government just now but when is that ever not the case?”
She continued: “This decision comes from a deeper and longer term of assessment. I know it might seem sudden but I have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity for some weeks.
“Essentially, I've been trying to answer two questions. Carrying on right for me and more importantly, is me carrying on right for my country for, my party, and for the independence cause I have devoted my life to.
“I understand why some will automatically answer yes to that second question. But in truth I have been having to work harder in recent times to convince myself that the answer to either of them when examined deeply is yes and I've reached the difficult conclusion that it is not.”
Her claims that her departure was not linked to the series of government controversies over recent months will, however, be questioned and whether it is linked to a police probe of SNP finances, which she refused to comment on.
Though I know it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short pressures. Of course, there are difficult issues confronting the issues government just now but when is that ever not the case?”
She added: “So if this was just a question of my ability or my resilience to get through the latest pressure I wouldn't be standing here today.”
