On the morning Nicola Sturgeon announced she would step down as Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader, Perthshire North MSP and her deputy John Swinney has expressed sadness at her decision.
Ms Sturgeon made the announcement at a news conference in Bute House, where she said she would remain in office until her successor was elected.
She has led the country for eight years and is the longest-serving first minister and the first woman to hold the position.
In a series of tweets in the minutes after the announcement of her resignation, the SNP’s deputy leader and MSP for Perthshire North North, John Swinney said: “I am very sorry that Nicola Sturgeon has decided to step down as First Minister and leader of the SNP.
“She has provided outstanding leadership to our country, government and party.
“As the first female, and longest serving, First Minister, she has achieved much for Scotland. Minimum unit pricing of alcohol, expansion of early learning, measures to tackle domestic violence, delivery of The Promise and crucially, leadership through Covid, to name but a few.
“For our party, she has delivered breathtaking electoral success, winning every election during her leadership and securing two Scottish Parliament victories.
“It has been my privilege to support her as Deputy First Minister.
“She has my warmest good wishes for the future and heartfelt thanks for all that she has done for Scotland, for the cause of Independence and for the Scottish National Party.”
During her speech to media in Edinburgh, the Scottish National Party leader said that she knew “in my head and in my heart” that this was the right time to step down.
She also said serving in the role had been “a privilege beyond measure”.
To explain her timing, she added: “Since the very first moment in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know, almost instinctively, when the time is right to make way for someone else.”
