Nicola Sturgeon has admitted she can't wait until the day she doesn't "give a f*** anymore" and is getting nearer every day to that time.
The First Minister was interviewing Succession actor Brian Cox at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Monday evening when she added to the speculation about her future.
Earlier this month during a Fringe event hosted by Iain Dale the SNP leader admitted her party could have a new leader in time for next Holyrood election which is scheduled to take place in 2026.
While chatting to Dundonian Cox, who was promoting his new book Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, Sturgeon said she would decide "nearer the time" about her whether she wants to continue as leader.
During the chat in the capital Cox and Sturgeon showered each other with compliments with the FM calling the actor a "brilliant human being" and an "amazing living legend".
Cox replied by saying: "This is an amazing woman. What she's doing for our country is incredible. And let her do it please, because she’s doing a great job."
He added that life is getting better with age, the 76-year-old said: "It's got better as I've got older, you know. I like being my age. I enjoy being my age [more] now than I've ever enjoyed before. As I've got older, I just, I don't know, I feel more free. I just don't give a f*** anymore, you know what I mean?"
Sturgeon replied: "I can’t wait to reach that stage."
Cox said: "Nicola, you will reach that stage."
The FM added: "I get a bit closer to it every single day that passes, believe me."
Earlier this month Sturgeon raised her future with LBC presenter Dale during an interview when she was asked whether she could still stay in touch with ordinary voters’ concerns after so long in office.
She replied: "Who in this room can say with 100 per cent certainty what we'll be doing four years from now? The default position is that of course I’ll fight the next election, but I will make a judgment on that nearer the time.
"This is a serious job and anybody in a job like this owes it to the public to make sure that they’re the right person to do it, that they've got the energy to do it, that they've got the appetite, that they're prepared to make the enormous commitment that a job like this involves, and to constantly be assessing and reassessing that.
"I think that's important, and I will try my best to do that. I think most Scottish politicians of all parties will testify to - maybe this is a bit Scottish, not uniquely but particularly Scottish - I think politicians that get out a touch above themselves very quickly get brought crashing back to earth."
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