Nicola Sturgeon has announced her intention to resign as Scottish First Minister after nearly 10 years in the role.
The 52-year-old has been the first minister since November 2014. While announcing her resignation, she highlighted that she had been struggling with the decision for some weeks but has concluded that the "time is now" to stand down as it would be "right for me, for my party and for the country".
For the time being, Ms Sturgeon will remain in the role until a successor has been elected. She adds that the national secretary of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has already been instructed to begin the process of electing a new leader.
Read more: Nicola Sturgeon set to resign as Scottish First Minister
She acknowledged that some would "feel upset by this decision". However, 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.”
Ms Sturgeon also recognised that serving as First Minister of Scotland had been a "privilege beyond measure". She continued: "I am proud to stand here as the first female and longest-serving incumbent of this office and I am very proud of what has been achieved in the years I’ve been blessed to do this.
“However, 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. And when that time came, to have the courage to do so, even if to many across the country and in my party, might feel it too soon.
“In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it is right for me, for my party and for the country. And so today I am announcing my intention to step down as First Minister and leader of my party.”
In describing why she resigned, Ms Sturgeon said: "First, though I know it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short-term pressures. Of course there are difficult issues confronting the government just now, but when is that ever not the case?
“I have spent almost three decades in frontline politics, a decade-and-a-half on the top or second-top rung of government. When it comes to navigating choppy waters, resolving seemingly intractable issues, or soldiering on when walking away would be the simpler option, I have plenty of experience to draw on.
“So if this was just a question of my ability or my resilience to get through the latest period of pressure I wouldn’t be standing here today, but it’s not. This decision comes from a deeper and longer-term assessment. I know it may seem sudden, but I have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity for some weeks.
“Essentially, I’ve been trying to answer two questions: Is carrying on right for me? And more importantly is me carrying on right for the country, for my party and for the independence cause I have devoted my life to?”
Continuing to discuss the pressure the role has had on her, Ms Sturgeon said: "If the only question was ‘can I battle on for another few months?’, then the answer is yes, of course I can.
“But if the question is, ‘can I give this job everything it demands and deserves for another year, let alone for the remainder of this parliamentary term – give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that I have strived to do every day for the past eight years?’ – the answer honestly is different.
“And as that is my decision, hard though it has been for me to reach it, then given the nature and scale of the challenges the country faces, I have a duty to say so now.”
Read next:
Greater Manchester hospital in 'critical incident' for second day
Nicola Bulley search update as police release new photo of potential witness in hunt for missing mum
Date released for third and final report from Arena bombing public inquiry
Fury as 'Coronation Street' rapist 'due to be released as early as next month'
Factory International named one of best things to see in WORLD
