leave the european union, one of the few leaders who had a very clear idea of what we needed to do during that process. similarly during covid, and let s not forget, i know you get some newspaper headline sometimes about poll ratings, she is continually pulling better than any other political leader in the uk, the snp continues to have a significant lead over any other political party, so it is sometimes worth that little bit of perspective. worth that little bit of ersective. , . ., , worth that little bit of ersective. , . . , ., perspective. given all that, why do ou think perspective. given all that, why do you think she perspective. given all that, why do you think she might perspective. given all that, why do you think she might have - perspective. given all that, why do you think she might have taken - perspective. given all that, why do | you think she might have taken this decision? , ., ., ., decision? something you don t hear in these programmes decision? somethin
this is something that will be on people who are snp members are more broadly, this is somebody who is very popular among scottish public opinion, as shown by opinion polls and elections. this is something that will be disappointing to a lot of people north of the border, and elsewhere in the uk and europe, who admire the first minister s work over the past few years. it admire the first minister s work over the past few years. it almost sounds like over the past few years. it almost sounds like you over the past few years. it almost sounds like you wonder over the past few years. it almost sounds like you wonder if - over the past few years. it almost sounds like you wonder if there i over the past few years. it almost sounds like you wonder if there is| sounds like you wonder if there is an echo of jacinda are down sounds like you wonder if there is an echo ofjacinda are down and sounds like you wonder if there is an echo of jacinda are down and new ceiling to step down recentl
irrationally so. too often i see issues presented and, as a result, view do not own their own merits but through the prism of what i think and what people think about me. i have always been of the belief that no one individual should be dominant in any system for too long. while it is easy to hold that view in the abstract, it is much harder to live by it. with this decision, i am trying to do so. indeed, if all parties were to take this opportunity to de polarise public debate just a opportunity to de polarise public debatejust a bit, to opportunity to de polarise public debate just a bit, to focus opportunity to de polarise public debatejust a bit, to focus more on issues than on personalities and to reset the tone and the tenor of our discourse and this decision, right for me and i believe the party and the country, might also prove to be good for our politics. i certainly live in hope. now, a couple of final points before i take a few questions. while i am stepping down
gender recognition bill into scotland, how much that might have played into this decision and how divisive that issue has been in scotland? it divisive that issue has been in scotland? divisive that issue has been in scotland? . ., , , scotland? it has certainly been divisive, but scotland? it has certainly been divisive, but at scotland? it has certainly been divisive, but at the scotland? it has certainly been divisive, but at the same - scotland? it has certainly been divisive, but at the same time | scotland? it has certainly been | divisive, but at the same time i think it would be wrong for me to certainly take over the bones of nicola sturgeon plus my premiership when she still has not even resigned yet. i think that is for the coming days and will be for pundits and political commentators. like i say, i lead the scottish liberal democrats in scotland, i have had a lot of cause to be in close proximity to nicola over the eight months of my premiership in green rooms and e
would carry enormous, probably decisive weight when our conference meets next month. and i cannot in good conscious ask the party to choose an option based on my judgment whilst not being convinced that i would be there as leader to see it through. by making my decision clear now, i free the snp to choose the path that things might be the right one without worrying about the perceived implications for my leadership and in the knowledge that a new leader will steer us i believe successfully on our path. there are two further reflections that have weighed in my decision. these i suppose are more about our political culture and the nature and impact of the dominance and longevity that come from success in politics. the first i hope my party will take heart from. one of the difficulties in coming to terms with this decision is that i am confident