POLITICAL friends and foes have been reacting to Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation.
The First Minister took to the podium in Edinburgh earlier today to announce she was stepping down from the top job.
Following her announcement, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “Nicola Sturgeon has been a formidable politician and I thank her for her service as First Minister for eight years. I particularly appreciate the work that she undertook to help us deliver two new Freeports in Scotland, bringing thousands of jobs and millions of pounds of investment.
“A new First Minister will have a real chance to re-focus the Scottish Government on what they were elected to do – improve public services such as health and education that people rely on and that are vital to Scotland’s future success.
“Her resignation presents a welcome opportunity for the Scottish Government to change course, and to drop its divisive obsession with independence.
“I want to see a Scottish Government that works hand in hand with the UK Government to realise our full potential as a country.”
Meanwhile, South Scotland SNP MSP Emma Harper paid tribute to her leader and said: “Nicola Sturgeon has served Scotland and the SNP with absolute distinction. As the first female First Minister, she has also been the longest serving incumbent in the role. Both of these are stunning achievements in themselves.
“Nicola Sturgeon has shown great courage and an unrivalled political instinct that we have come to know in taking the difficult decision to stand down. No one has achieved more in elected office for the SNP, for Scottish politics and for the people and communities of Scotland. “As the First Minister indicated, we are all human beings as well as politicians. Being in the frontline of politics takes its toll, not only on the individuals but also on people’s families and friends. No one has borne that more than Nicola Sturgeon, not least as she led our nation through the uncharted waters of a global pandemic.”
And Dumfriesshire MSP Oliver Mundell added: “Nicola Sturgeon’s time in office has been dominated by division and has seen the voice of our region ignored.
“Many locally will be pleased to draw a line under this time, but they will recognise the threat of a second independence referendum has not gone away. We can only hope whoever takes over as the next First Minister will take this opportunity to reset and ensure the Scottish Government focuses on the real priorities of people living in our area, like urgently rebuilding our local NHS services.”
