Nicola Sturgeon resignation as Scotland’s First Minister opens door for Labour at next election

With no obvious replacement for Nicola Sturgeon within the ranks of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Labour is already eyeing off a prime opportunity to win the next election.

Nicola Sturgeon announces her resignation as Scotland's First Minister. Picture: AFP

Nicola Sturgeon’s sudden resignation has created a giant upheaval in Scottish politics – not just for the Scottish Nationalist Party, which has no obvious replacement, but for the future of the country’s independence movement.

Within hours of her shock decision to stand down as First Minister and the SNP leader after eight years in power, Scottish Labour was seeing Sturgeon’s departure as a prime opportunity to win the next general election.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said for the first time since they lost power in 2010, there was a belief Labour could dominate north of the border. In 2015, Labour in Scotland was almost wiped out by the SNP.

But Sarwar told the BBC: “For 12 years I don’t think people in Scotland have believed that a Labour UK government was possible. I think that is changing now. I think people believe a UK Labour government is possible.”

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 To all the people of Scotland - whether you voted for me or not - please know that being your First Minister has been the privilege of my life.

Nothing - absolutely nothing - I do in future will ever come close.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. https://t.co/ZbmmkzyHwK

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 15, 2023

Meanwhile, the SNP was in tatters, with culture secretary Angus Robertson and current deputy Keith Brown, 62, being lobbied to stand for the leadership. But it’s 32-year-old Kate Forbes – the Scottish finance secretary who has just had her first baby and is on maternity leave – who is being suggested as the early front runner despite her strong religious beliefs. She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland which takes a conservative position on gay rights and transgender issues.

There is no doubt that leadership over such a prolonged period has a huge personal cost, particularly throughout the unprecedented Covid years. It has been a privilege to serve in her Government. I wish her and her family all the very best for the next chapter./2

— Kate Forbes MSP (@_KateForbes) February 15, 2023

Another is health secretary Humza Yousaf, 37, who has struggled to deal with the ballooning health crisis in Scotland.

Some SNP members hailed Ms Sturgeon for her strength of leadership, while others immediately called for the party to look ahead.

The parliamentarian for Aberdeen South, Stephen Flynn, said Ms Sturgeon had been the outstanding political leader in the country and taken support for independence to record levels while winning every national election by margins other parties could only wish for.

“As Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister, she led with distinction through the Covid pandemic, and introduced a raft of progressive policies to make Scotland a fairer place,” he said.

“She is a formidable leader, a dedicated public servant and she will be sorely missed by myself, my party and people right across Scotland.”

Nicola has been an inspiration to myself and countless others for so long. A formidable leader and dedicated public servant, unmatched not just in Scotland but right across these isles. She has made Scotland a better place and for that I will always be thankful. pic.twitter.com/PqKtEbKZ3I

— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) February 15, 2023

In contrast, Scottish conservative leader Douglas Ross said Ms Surgeon had presided over “a decade of division and decay in Scotland”, criticising her for refusing to accept the 2014 referendum result, which rejected independence 55-45. He lashed out at her relentless agitation for another vote, saying she governed in the party’s interests rather than those of Scotland.

“As a result, Scotland has been in a state of constitutional paralysis ever since – divided and unable to move on from the Groundhog Day of 2014 and its toxic legacy, despite the wish of the majority of Scots to do just that,’’ he said.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak wouldn’t be drawn on the impact of Ms Sturgeon’s resignation on the independence debate. He tweeted: “My thanks go to Nicola Sturgeon for her longstanding service. I wish her all the best for her next steps. We will continue to work closely with the Scotland government on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland.”

My thanks go to @NicolaSturgeon for her long-standing service. I wish her all the best for her next steps.

We will continue to work closely with the @scotgov on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 15, 2023

There continued to be intense scrutiny on Ms Sturgeon’s reasons for her relinquishing the leadership, but not quitting politics altogether.

She has made clear she will be a continuing voice in the independence fight, perhaps something that may become a thorn for whoever takes the helm, akin to the former leader Alex Salmond’s chipping at the sidelines with his Alba party.

Of course all of the pressure for Ms Sturgeon to stand aside related directly to her failure to bring the people with her to force an independence vote.

The polling showed her miscalculation about pushing through divisive transgender rules, with her push for legal recognition of gender self-identification for people as young as 16 resulting in plummeting support for her leadership and causing deep fractures within the SNP.

Meanwhile, there continues to be scrutiny of the role played in the SNP’s financial affairs by Ms Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell, who is the party’s chief executive.

Police Scotland have been investigating complaints about the whereabouts of some £600,000 raised and earmarked for Scexit – Scotland’s exit from the United Kingdom – for the past two years.

The SNP Leadership & party management have been deeply bound together. I cannot see any circumstances in which Peter Murrell can continue as Chief Executive under a new leader who must be free to choose a successor. Meantime we need a neutral caretaker CEO. https://t.co/b87smMxwNf

— Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) February 15, 2023

Just this week there were renewed questions about why Mr Murrell made a £107,000 loan to the SNP. Ms Sturgeon was asked about this after announcing she was standing down but she refused to answer.

SNP parliamentarian Joanna Cherry, who has clashed with Ms Sturgeon over the gender bill, called for a neutral caretaker CEO to replace Mr Murrell.

Ms Cherry tweeted: “The SNP leadership and party management have been deeply bound together.

“I cannot see any circumstances in which Peter Murrell can continue as chief executive under a new leader who must be free to choose a successor. Meantime we need a neutral caretaker CEO.”