Nicola Sturgeon will step down from her position as First Minister of Scotland after an urgent announcement made today.
The 52-year-old politician was the first woman to take up the position as First Minister of Scotland, and has remained in the position for eight years.
During a statement made at Edinburgh's Bute House, Sturgeon thanked the people of Scotland for supporting her over the years, and said she feels this is the "correct timing" to step down from leadership.
Ms Sturgeon has noted that leading the nation has been a “privilege beyond measure”, as she reminisced over her time as First Minister.
READ MORE - Nicola Sturgeon set to resign as Scotland's first minister after eight years
Here are the key points of Nicola Sturgeon's speech where she announced her resignation from First Minister.
Nicola Sturgeon will remain as FM until successor is elected
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she will be remaining in her position as First Minister until her eventual successor is elected from the Scottish National Party.
The First Minister said that she had instructed the national secretary of the SNP to begin the process of electing a new leader and that she would “remain in office until my successor is elected”.
The SNP leader said she knew there were some people who would “feel upset by this decision”.
She added: “And of course for balance there will be some who, how can I put this, will cope with the news just fine, such is the beauty of democracy.
“But to those who do feel shocked or disappointed, or perhaps even a bit angry with me, please… be in no doubt that this is really hard for me.
“My decision comes from a place of duty and of love.
“Tough love, perhaps, but love nevertheless for my party and above all for the country.”
First Minister will not leave politics; will continue to fight for independence
Ms Sturgeon has also said that she plans to support Scotland's bid for independence. Speaking in Edinburgh, Nicola said: "Winning independence is the cause I have dedicated a lifetime to. It is a cause I believe in with every fibre of my being. And it is a cause I am convinced as being won.
“I intend to be there as it is won, every step of the way.”
She also noted that she is "freeing" the Scottish National Party by stepping down, in order to take a decision on how best to pursue independence “without worrying about the perceived implications for my leadership”.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I feel that duty first and foremost to our country to ensure that it has the energy of leadership that it needs not just today but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term.
“And right now, in a very particular sense, I feel that duty to my part too. We are at a critical moment. The blocking of our referendum as the accepted constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage.
“My preference of using the next Westminster election as a de facto referendum is well known.”
Nicola Sturgeon to stay on as MSP until next election
Nicola Sturgeon has also indicated she will continue on the backbenches as an MSP at Holyrood.
She said in Scotland there are now “stronger protections for victims of domestic abuse, and Parliament will soon consider legislation to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual offences”.
Ms Sturgeon added: “I will be the strongest possible advocate for these reforms from the backbenches.”
First Minister's main reasons for steeping down
Nicola Sturgeon discussed the polarising discourse experienced by staying in the job too long, and stated that she felt that "fixed opinions" played a part in her decision.
She said: “I feel more and more each day now that the fixed opinions people increasingly have about me, some fair and others a little more than caricature, are being used as barriers to reason debate in our country.
“Statements and decisions that should not be controversial at all quickly become so. Issues that are controversial end up almost irrationally so.
“Too often I see issues presented as a result viewed, not on their own merits but through the prism of what I think and what people think of me.
“I’ve always been of the belief that no one individual should be dominant in any system for too long.”
She also noted that the decision came from a "place of duty and love", and was one she "wrestled with for months before this day".
Thanks Scottish people for support and love throughout her tenure
Nicola concluded her speech by thanking the people of Scotland for supporting her throughout her tenure as First Minister.
She finished off her resignation speech by saying: “So to the people of Scotland, to all of the people of Scotland, whether you’ve voted for me or not, please know that being your First Minister has been the privilege of my life. Nothing, absolutely nothing I do in future will ever come anywhere close.
"Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.”
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