After what has been a tough few years for Scotland and the whole of the UK, Nicola Sturgeon has officially stepped down from her role as Scotland’s first minister. The official announcement was made today (February 15) at a quickly put-together news conference in Edinburgh.
The news broke on BBC after a source close to the first minister told that she has ‘had enough’. The SNP leader is the longest serving first minister ever and has been in the role since November 2014. Before Ms Sturgeon, Alex Salmond was Scotland’s first minister and he’d stepped down after being defeated during the independence referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘In truth, I have been having to work harder in the recent weeks to convince myself that staying in the role is right for me. I am a human being as well as a politician, and giving absolutely everything you have in this job is the only way, and it’s the only fair way to the country.’
After the news broke, concerns have emerged that Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation could also mean a negative impact on the Scotland’s independence movement.
She followed in a tearful voice: ‘Leading this country has been the toughest thing I’ve ever done, and the toughest thing I will ever do.’ She has then followed explaining she cannot keep going on for the rest of the parliamentary term.
Nicola Sturgeon will now allow a transition time for a new SNP leader to be elected. Ms Sturgeon has also urged Scottish politicians to continue their support for the independence, and felt assured ‘there are plenty of talented individuals in the SNP party’.