The first woman to serve as First Minister of Scotland is ending her historical run, with Nicola Sturgeon announcing she is stepping down as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP).
The ex-Scottish National Party (SNP) leader was the longest-serving first minister, succeeding Alex Salmond in 2014 and resigning in March 2023 after eight years.
On social media, she said she would not be seeking selection for next year’s Holyrood election.
“I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life,” she wrote in a statement.
“In making this announcement, it is inevitable that I feel a mixture of sorrow and anticipation. I am sad to be closing the book on this remarkable and deeply fulfilling chapter of my life; but I am also hugely excited about the start of a new phase, in which I will discover different ways to advance the causes I care so much about.”
The 54-year old Glasgow Southside MSP joined the SNP at the age of 16, and became one of the original members of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
In her resignation statement, she explained her reason for joining the SNP, saying “I wanted to play my part in building a fair and prosperous Scotland, and I have dedicated my life to that task ever since.”
“I believed then that winning our country’s independence was essential to Scotland reaching her full potential, and I still do. Even though I am preparing to leave elected politics, I hope to contribute in different ways to making that ambition a reality. Indeed, given the challenges facing the world today, it is more important than ever that progressive voices, inside and outside of Parliaments, continue to speak up for fairness, equality, and dignity for all. Be in no doubt that I will always speak out and stand up for what I believe in.”
She thanked her constituents “for the trust they have placed in [her]” and promised to continue to represent them “to the best of [her] ability” until she steps down in May 2025. “[It] has been an honour beyond words.”
Sturgeon praised her Glasgow Southside constituency, describing it as “the best in Scotland…with its rich diversity of culture, faith, and ethnicity, it is in many ways a microcosm of what a vibrant, successful country should look like.” She highlighted her work to revitalise the city, including new and improved housing, rebuilding the iconic Citizens Theatre, regenerating the Gorbals (formerly known as one of Europe’s worst slums) and constructing a new footbridge over the river Clyde.
During her time as a Minister in the Scottish Government, she also helped implement a range of policies, including the Scottish Child Payment, expanding early years education, and investing in housing and new hospitals.
“I am so proud to have represented all of the fantastic communities that make up Glasgow Southside—its people, places, and landmarks will be in my heart forever,” Sturgeon said.
Speaking to BBC Scotland News, she said her time in parliament had been a “privilege beyond words…but the time is right for me at this stage in my life to close the book on that chapter and open a new one.”
In May 2024, she revealed that she’d received more abuse for her gender recognition reforms plans than on any other issue.
“I’ve had more abuse hurled at me over the issue of trans rights than probably any other issue I’ve discussed, including Scottish independence probably, so it has been really, really difficult,” she said last year.
In late 2022, the SNP introduced a bill to lower the age people could change their legal gender from 18 to 16, reduce the waiting period for adults to change their legal gender from two years to three months and remove the requirement of a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, thus allowing gender to be a marker that citizens could self-identify. The proposed law was blocked by the UK government, who claimed it conflicted with UK-wide equalities law.
“I will never apologise for trying to make life better for one of the most stigmatised, discriminated against sections of our society,” Sturgeon told BBC Scotland News this week.
Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as first minister for 12 months, posted his reaction to her latest news on X:: “I am excited to see what Nicola goes on to do next.”
“She is one of the most talented politicians of our generation. I am personally grateful for her advice, trust, and friendship over the years. With every good wish Nicola Sturgeon.”
Yousaf’s successor, John Swinney also expressed his gratitude for Sturgeon on X, saying he was “sorry” to see her stand down and thanked her “warmly for her immense contribution to the Scottish Parliament.”
“As Scotland’s longest serving and first female First Minister, she has done so much to improve the lives of people in Scotland. I send her every good wish.”
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, said Sturgeon’s latest announcement marked “the end of an era in Scottish politics” and that while he harbours “many disagreements with her”, he “never doubted her passion for Glasgow and Scotland.”
In June 2023, Sturgeon was arrested in connection to a police investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP. Months prior, her then-husband, Peter Murrell was also arrested. Murrell was subsequently charged with embezzling SNP funds, while Sturgeon was released without charge. She has continually denied any wrongdoing.