Nicola Sturgeon (Image: Getty)
Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced she won't seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year, effectively marking her retirement from full-time politics. She was First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2023 and has been a member of the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood since 1999.
However her career has been extremely controversial in recent years. In April 2023, husband Peter Murrell was arrested as part of a police inquiry into the SNP's funding and finances. He was later charged with embezzling SNP funds. Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie have also been arrested and released without charge as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform. All three and the SNP as a whole deny any wrongdoing.
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Mr Murrell also resigned as SNP chief executive after taking responsibility for misleading the media over party membership numbers during a leadership contest, which Humza Yousaf went on to win. Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murell have since separated.
Ms Sturgeon was also involved in a bitter long-running feud with former SNP leader and ex-first minister Alex Salmond, who died last year.
The ex-SNP leader confirmed she would not seek re-election at the Holyrood election in May next year.
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Ms Sturgeon – who represents the Glasgow Southside constituency – made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday.
In a letter to local SNP members, she said: “I am writing to let you know that I have decided not to seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year.
“Reaching this decision has been far from easy, however, 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, and to allow you to select a new standard bearer.
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“Whoever you choose will have my full support and I look forward to campaigning alongside you to ensure that Glasgow Southside remains an SNP-held constituency.”
As well as campaigning to keep the constituency in SNP hands next year, Ms Sturgeon said she will be with the party “every step of the way as we complete our journey to independence”.
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She said: “To my constituents, past and present: thank you for the trust you have placed in me. Being your MSP has been my privilege and I will continue to represent you to the best of my abilities until I step down next year.
“To Southside SNP members: your support, loyalty and friendship, through thick and thin, has meant more to me than you will ever know. You are the best of the best.
“To SNP members across the country: I may be leaving Parliament, but I will be by your side every step of the way as we complete our journey to independence.”