'TIME IS RIGHT'
Nicola Sturgeon fights back tears as she quits after devastating gender row in fresh blow to independence
NICOLA Sturgeon has dramatically quit as Scotland's First Minister after eight years in power.
In a fresh blow to independence, the SNP Leader will formally stand down once a successor is chosen by her party.
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But she'll stay on as a Member of the Scottish parliament at least until the next election, to continue pushing for her push for another divisive independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon admitted she was holding back the cause, and insisted by stepping down she'll heal bitter SNP infighting about her future.
It came as her critics called on whoever takes over from her to scrap the controversial gender laws she had pushed, and finally give up on another divisive independence battle.
Tearful Ms Sturgeon said at a dramatic press conference this morning: "We must reach across the divide in Scottish politics and my judgment now is that a new leader would be better able to do this."
Her unexpected resignation came after she faced a barrage of attacks after transgender double rapist Isla Bryson was almost transferred to a Scottish women's prison.
Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, switched gender after appearing in the dock for raping two mums.
Feminists hit out at Ms Sturgeon for putting militant gender ideology above the health and safety of women.
In the face of huge pressure the First Minister backed down and Bryson was kept in a male facility.
Major backlash to Ms Sturgeon also erupted after she championed the controversial Scottish gender reform bill - setting up a huge clash with Westminster.
Her new law means anyone aged 16 or over in Scotland can change the sex on their birth certificate needed after a six-month process - simply by signing a legal declaration.
Campaigners, including esteemed author JK Rowling, argue the reforms would endanger vulnerable women seeking shelter and protection in single-sex spaces.
But Rishi Sunak vowed to block it from ever passing into law.
MPs from across the spectrum came out to pay their own tributes to Ms Sturgeon - but called on whoever takes over from her to urgently change track.
Levelling Up Chief Michael Gove said: "Politics takes its toll and she deserves respect for her commitment to public service.
"I hope her successor will address the concerns now so vividly apparent with the GRR Bill, concerns first highlighted by
@KemiBadenoch."
And Tory MP John Lamont added: "Nicola Sturgeon's resignation provides an opportunity for a new First Minister to focus on the real priorities of the Scottish people, instead of another divisive referendum."
But Tory MP Chris Clarkson warned: "Nicola Sturgeon is undoubtedly a highly capable politician.
"However, to pretend that she didn't stoke division and a particularly nasty rhetoric where unionists (especially Conservatives) are concerned is editorial at best."
Ms Sturgeon today insisted gender scandals have nothing to do with why she's stepping down now - and said the time had come for her to move and out of the limelight.
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Analysis from The Sun's Political Editor Harry Cole
CHAMPAGNE corks will be popping for both Tories and for Labour as Nicola Sturgeon throws in the towel.
In the short term its good news for the Government with support for independence plummeting and its most famous advocate clearing the stage.
The Tories "muscular unionism" and gamble of overturning Sturgeon's controversial gender bill has clearly paid off leaving those that predicted the showdown would only strengthen Sturgeon's hand with egg on their faces.
However there will be delight in Labour land too: the only path to a Westminster majority in 2024 for Sir Keir Starmer includes a major resurgence for his party north of the border.
There is a chance now for Labour to split anti-Tory sentiment in Scotland in a way in which they have struggled since the 2014 referendum and their subsequent routing.
But there is still work to do - Scottish Labour actually backed the controversial Sturgeon gender bill, leaving the Tories the only ones opposing it north of the border.
For all her fanfare, the Sturgeon's legacy is one of soaring educational unfairness, drug use and overspending, while Scotland's life expectancy is dramatically lower than England's.
Labour will sense an opening on the domestic front - but given the new SNP leader will have to court the membership to win the job in the coming months, all sorts of constitutional pledges may have to be made by the successful candidate.
If that means still pushing for a second referendum immediately, that could well dent Labour's chances and allow the Tories to play their favourite role of the only true defenders of the Union.
Fighting back tears during her resignation speech in Edinburgh, she said: "Since my very first moments in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know, almost instinctively, when the time is right to make way for someone else.
"In my head and in my heart I know that time is now."
The First Minister added: "While it will be tempting to see it as such, this decision is not a reaction to short term pressures.
"This decision comes from a deeper and longer term assessment. It might seem sudden, but I have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity, for some weeks.
"These jobs are a privilege, but they are also really hard and especially in the case of First Minister, relentlessly so.
"To be clear, I'm not expecting violins here. But I am a human being as well as a politician."
What happens next now Nicola Sturgeon has quit?
Now Nicola Sturgeon has quit as First Minister and SNP leader, it will kick off the leadership race for her successor.
She will remain in office until a new person is ready and in place.
The SNP will have their own leadership race like the Tories did to replace Boris Johnson and Liz Truss last year - where members will have their say.
It's likely that the next few weeks will see runners and riders launch their campaigns and get out and about across Scotland in a bid to woo party members.
Any campaign will probably last for a month or two.
In the last 2014 leadership race, which took place after Alex Salmond lost the independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon was the only one to announce she would run, and was effectively elected unopposed.
In 2004's leadership race, Mr Salmond was elected on a joint ticket with Ms Sturgeon to succeed John Swinney after he quit following poor SNP electoral prospects.
A number of people ran for the top job, but ultimately Mr Salmond won a final vote with a staggering 75 per cent of the votes, defeating two other candidates.
Whoever wins the SNP leadership will go on to be the First Minister of Scotland.
The next Scottish elections won't take place until 2026.
The First Minister described being drained of energy as she tried to get Scotland through the Covid pandemic.
"The weight of responsibility was immense," she said.
"And it's only very recently I think that I've started to comprehend, let alone process, the physical and mental impact of it on me."
Ms Sturgeon claimed there is majority support for independence, despite polling clearing indicating otherwise.
"Individual polls come and go, but I am firmly of the view that there is now majority support for independence in Scotland," she said.
"But that support needs to be solidified and it needs to grow further if our independent Scotland is to have the best possible foundation."
The First Minister added that "no one individual should be dominant in any system for too long".
"Please know that being your First Minister has been the privilege of my life. Nothing, absolutely nothing, I do in future ever come anywhere close."
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Responding to the First Minister's resignation, Rishi Sunak said: "My thanks go to Nicola Sturgeon for her long-standing service.
"I wish her all the best for her next steps. We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on our joint efforts to deliver for people across Scotland."
Ms Sturgeon took over as SNP Leader from Alex Salmond after the 2014 independence referendum, which the Yes campaign lost.
She's campaigned for independence since the age of 16 and pushed for a de-facto second referendum to go ahead this year.
But that was shot down by the Supreme Court who clarified a referendum could only take place with permission from Westminster.
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Support for Ms Sturgeon and independence has plummeted.
Yougov polling conducted during the Isla Bryson scandal in late January saw the First Minister's approval rating drop to -4.
Support for the SNP has slumped from 50 to 44% in the constituency vote, and from 40 to 36% in the regional vote.
And over the weekend a Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times found 42% of voters in Scotland thought Ms Sturgeon should resign immediately amid gender recognition controversies.
Just last month Ms Sturgeon met Mr Sunak for dinner during his first visit to Scotland as PM.
The pair met in the area ahead of the confirmation of two new freeports north of the border.
The UK ’s relationship with the First Minister's administration has been strained recently, especially by her push for another referendum and the legislation.
A number of politicians have been tipped to replace Ms Sturgeon.
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Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson is a favourite with the bookies to step into her shoes.
So too is 32-year-old devout Christian and SNP rising star Kate Forbes, who currently serves as Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance.
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