Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to step down as MSP at 2026 Holyrood election

Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to face down as an MSP, she has introduced.

The ex-SNP chief confirmed she wouldn’t search re-election on the Holyrood election in Might subsequent yr.

After asserting her choice on social media, she instructed BBC Scotland Information her time in parliament had been a “privilege past phrases”.

She added: “However the time is true for me at this stage in my life to shut the e-book on that chapter and open a brand new one.”

Sturgeon resigned as first minister in March 2023 after eight years within the position.

She is Scotland’s longest-serving first minister and the primary girl to carry the place.

Her resignation as social gathering chief marked the start of a tumultuous interval for her and the SNP.

In June 2023 she was arrested and launched with out cost as a part of a police investigation into SNP funds. She insists she has carried out nothing improper.

Her husband Peter Murrell, who had lengthy served because the SNP’s chief government, has since been charged with embezzling SNP funds.

In January, Sturgeon introduced that the pair had determined to finish their marriage.

The Glasgow Southside MSP is likely one of the unique MSPs elected in 1999.

Saying her choice to step down, Sturgeon highlighted insurance policies launched throughout her time in workplace such because the Scottish Baby Fee and expanded early years schooling.

She additionally stated she remained dedicated to the marketing campaign for Scottish independence.

The previous first minister has confronted criticism for her file on tackling medicine deaths, closing the attainment hole between faculty pupils from higher off and extra disadvantaged backgrounds, and on controversial gender recognition reforms that will have made it simpler for transgender folks to vary their legally recognised intercourse.

Sturgeon instructed BBC Scotland Information she was “proud” of her achievements and would “depart it to others” to criticise her legacy.

On gender recognition reforms, she added: “I’ll by no means apologise for making an attempt to make life higher for one of the vital stigmatised, discriminated towards sections of our society.”

Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond as SNP chief and first minister in 2014.

The long-time pals remained shut allies till their fallout over her authorities’s mishandling of harassment complaints towards him.

Salmond died aged 69 whereas attending a convention in North Macedonia in October 2024. Sturgeon didn’t attend his funeral or memorial service.

She led the SNP to a sequence of election victories at UK, Scottish and native stage.

This included a historic landslide within the 2015 common election, the place the social gathering gained 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.

In 2022, the UK Supreme Court docket dominated that Holyrood didn’t have the facility to stage one other independence referendum – a transfer blocked by the UK authorities.

Sturgeon was succeeded by Humza Yousaf as first minister.

He lasted only a yr within the position, stepping down final April after a call to tear up a power-sharing settlement with the Scottish Greens left him dealing with a vote of no confidence.

Yousaf introduced in December final yr that he’s to face down as an MSP on the 2026 Holyrood election.

Following Sturgeon’s newest announcement, Yousaf posted on X: “I’m excited to see what Nicola goes on to do subsequent.

“She is likely one of the most proficient politicians of our technology. I’m personally grateful for her recommendation, belief, and friendship over time. With each good want Nicola Sturgeon.”

Yousaf was changed as first minister by Sturgeon’s deputy John Swinney, who after a poor exhibiting at July’s common election has seen assist for SNP stabilise within the polls.

Swinney stated he was “very sorry” that Sturgeon was stepping down and thanked her for her “extraordinary contribution” to Scottish politics.

He added that the previous first minister had “many alternative coverage achievements to be happy with in altering the lives of individuals in Scotland for the higher”.

Sturgeon instructed BBC Scotland Information in December that she was focussed on her constituents after being criticised for talking simply 4 occasions within the parliament final yr.

She has made 4 contributions within the chamber thus far this yr, although three had been to inform the presiding officer she had an issue along with her voting app.

Scottish Conservative deputy chief Rachael Hamilton stated her social gathering wished any departing MSP properly “however we can not neglect the deep divisions in our nation that Nicola Sturgeon created, fostered and inspired”.

She added: “By any goal evaluation, her file as first minister is one in every of failure. Scottish schooling requirements collapsed on her watch and the poverty-related attainment hole, which she promised to eradicate, widened.”

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour chief, stated Sturgeon’s announcement marked “the top of an period in Scottish politics”.

“While I’ve many disagreements along with her, I by no means doubted her ardour for Glasgow and Scotland. I want her properly for the longer term,” he added.

Scottish Inexperienced co-leader Lorna Slater, who served as a minister in Sturgeon’s SNP-Inexperienced authorities, described the previous first minister as a “legend”.

“Scottish politics has been higher along with her in cost – her cautious planning, her good communication and her sense that she actually cares about folks.”

Scottish Lib Dem chief Alex Cole-Hamilton stated: “The SNP have been in energy for too lengthy, and the departure of one other large determine is additional proof of their decline.”