Eva Castanedo

Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation as First Minister of Scotland, shocking her pro-independence Scottish National Party and unleashing the contest to succeed her as SNP leader. As she announced her departure, the First Minister stressed the necessity for a clear Scottish independence policy.

The unexpected announcement was made at a hastily scheduled press conference on Wednesday from her official residence in Edinburgh, where she has served as the party’s leader and the head of the nation’s devolved government since 2014.

Sturgeon, 52, said it had been a “privilege beyond measure” to serve as First Minister. She cited the personal toll of the job and a wish to “free” her party to choose its Scottish independence strategy as reasons for her departure.

Sturgeon is the longest-serving First Minister in Scottish history and has guided her party to multiple electoral triumphs. She has been a prominent opponent of Brexit and has said that Britain’s exit from the EU justifies another referendum on Scottish independence.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Sturgeon following her resignation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “We will continue to work closely with the Scottish government on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland,” and thanked her “for her long-standing service.”

Adam Price, Leader of Plaid Cymru, praised her as “a once in a generation politician, driven by an unwavering passion for her country”.

Sturgeon was an “able politician,” said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who guided Scotland through some of its most “challenging times” in recent memory.

Michelle O’Neill, Vice President of Sinn Fein, praised the “huge strides she has made in advancing the campaign for Scottish independence, the strong stance against Brexit and the undermining of devolution by the Tories in London.”

https://twitter.com/Adamprice/status/1625823013269561347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Sturgeon’s resignation comes after a rocky period for the SNP leader, with Scotland’s gender reform bill having sparked debate both inside and beyond the SNP.

Consensus suggests her resignation comes as a shock, as her government is at a crucial juncture in the fight for Scottish independence, the SNP’s ultimate goal. Due to the UK government’s refusal to cooperate with plans for a referendum, she defended the idea of utilising the next general election as a “de facto” referendum, meaning the vote would effectively take the place of a referendum. This was not widely supported by her party, and senior authorities have stated that an electoral contest would not give an accurate indication of support for independence.

There is now a possibility that the party’s plan for independence could change as a result of Sturgeon’s departure. The SNP is scheduled to host a conference in March to decide whether to use the next general election as a de facto referendum.

The SNP’s political opponents could see Sturgeon’s exit as an opportunity for their resurgence. In order to gain control of Westminster, Labour anticipates needing to win a significant number of seats in Scotland. Now, senior figures in the Labour party are aiming for twice as many seats at the next general election, up from the previous goal of 15 seats, following Sturgeon’s resignation.

“Whoever they choose will not have either her visibility, particularly post pandemic, or her authority after eight years as first minister”, stated Douglas Alexander, former cabinet minister recently selected to contest the seat for Labour.

Featured image courtesy of First Minister of Scotland on Flickr. Image license found here. No changes have been made to this image.

Final Year Journalism student at Cardiff University with a background in content-writing and magazine editorial and a keen interest in news, current affairs and fashion & lifestyle.

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