Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister announced on Wednesday that she would resign after eight years in the role.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) leader made the shocking announcement at a press conference in Edinburgh, saying she believes it is the right time to stand aside.
Sturgeon will however, stay in office until a new SNP leader is appointed. She is longest serving – and first female – First Minister.
“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.
Sturgeon said she knows the “time is now” for her to stand down, adding that it is “right for me, for my party and for the country.”
“First, though I know it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short-term pressures,” said Sturgeon. “This decision comes from a deeper and longer term assessment.”
Sturgeon has been facing increasing tensions with the UK government in London over Scottish independence, as well as UK government’s decision to block a Scottish law intended to allow trans people in Scotland to change their legal gender without a medical diagnosis.
She lost a court bid to hold a second independence referendum.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
