FORMER SNP leader and longest-serving first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP announced today that she will stand down at next year’s Holyrood elections.

Writing to SNP members in her Glasgow Southside constituency, she said that “the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life.”

Thanking supporters, she added: “I may be leaving Parliament, but I will be by your side every step of the way as we complete our journey to independence.”

Ms Strugeon was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, going on to become deputy first minister, under the leadership of her mentor, Alex Salmond.

Succeeding him after the Yes campaign’s defeat in the 2014 independence referendum, the relationship later soured amid allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. 

Resigning as first minister in 2023, within weeks she became embroiled in new controversy as Police Scotland investigated allegations of misconduct in SNP finances – her then husband and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell now faces charges relating to embezzlement.

Reacting to her announcement, First Minister John Swinney said: “She’s made an extraordinary contribution to the work of the Scottish Parliament and particularly to the Scottish government.” 

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it “marks the end of an era in Scottish politics,” adding: “Whilst I have many disagreements with her, I never doubted her passion for Glasgow and Scotland. I wish her well for the future.”

Adding her thanks for “showing the STUC and the wider trade union movement nothing but high-level respect” and promoting the Fair Work agenda, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “She can be proud of her legacy in encouraging more women, myself included, to speak up and use their voice to advocate for change.”