Nicola Sturgeon has resigned as Scotland’s first minister in a surprise decision, triggering the Scottish National party's first leadership election in nearly eight years. Sturgeon became the leader of the SNP in the wake of its failed 2014 independence referendum, and made independence her main political ambition. Despite continuously performing well in elections, she faced a series of political setbacks recently, including the UK supreme court defeat of her plans for a fresh independence referendum and a damaging row over the double rapist Isla Bryson being sent to a female jail after announcing she was a trans woman. Announcing her resignation, Sturgeon said she no longer had the stamina to continue in the highly pressured and demanding role
Unfazed by the future, Nicola Sturgeon left on her own terms
SNP top leaders urge overhaul of Sturgeon independence plan