duty first and foremost to our country, to ensure that it has the energy of leadership that it needs, notjust energy of leadership that it needs, not just today but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term. and right now, in a very particular sense, term. and right now, in a very particularsense, ifeel term. and right now, in a very particular sense, i feel that duty to my party, too. we are at a critical moment. the blocking of our referendum is the accepted constitutional route to independence is a democratic. to ensure that the will of the scottish people prevails. my preference of using the next westminster election as a de facto referendum is well known. i have never pretended it is no perfect, no second best option ever is, northat perfect, no second best option ever is, nor that there are no alternatives. that is why i have always been clear that the decision must be taken by the snp collectively, not by me alone. but i know my party well enough to understand tha
opinion polls and in elections, this is something that will be disappointing to a lot of people north of the border and elsewhere in the uk and europe as well who have admired the first minister s work over the last few years. it admired the first minister s work over the last few years. it almost sounds like over the last few years. it almost sounds like you over the last few years. it almost sounds like you are over the last few years. it almost sounds like you are wondering i over the last few years. it almost sounds like you are wondering if| sounds like you are wondering if there is an echo of jacinda ardern in new zealand who stepped down recently because she had no more left in the tank. but i wonder, nicola sturgeon has recently become embroiled in this row over transgender policies, making it easierfor transgender policies, making it easier for people to change their legal gender. do you think that might have anything to do with the decision? idot might have anything to
newspaper headlines are sometimes about poll ratings but she continually poles better than any other political leader in the uk and the snp continues to have a significant lead over any other political party. if something is 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 news programme decision? something you don t hear news programme is decision? something you don t hear news programme is often, - decision? something you don t hear news programme is often, but - decision? something yo
was actually during that funeral service that i went from being 99% certain about this decision to being 100% certain, although i know allen would not be at all happy to play any part in my departure. so i m sorry, alan. but his funeral reminded me that the cause of independence is so much bigger than any one individual. that all of us who believe in it contribute in different ways at different stages of our lives. since i was 16, i have contributed as an activist, a campaigner and a leader, and so now as we look to what i firmly believe is the final stage in scotland pass journey to independence, albeit a hard one, i hope to use all the experience and perspective i have gathered over these years to help get us there. lastly, there will be time in the days to come for me and others to reflect on what has been achieved during my time as first minister. i m pretty certain they
now. that it is right for me, for my party and for the country. and so today, i am announcing my intention today, i am announcing my intention to step down as first minister and leader of my party. i have asked the national secretary of the snp to begin the process of electing a new party leader and i will remain in office until my successor is elected. i know there will be some across the country who feel upset by this decision and by the fact i am taking it now. of course, for balance, there will be others who, how should i put this? cope with the news just fine. such how should i put this? cope with the newsjust fine. such is how should i put this? cope with the news just fine. such is the how should i put this? cope with the newsjust fine. such is the beauty of democracy. to those who do feel shocked, disappointed, perhaps even a bit angry with me, please note that while hard, and be in no doubt this is really hard for me, my decision comes from a place of duty and of love. tough l