OUTGOING First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will never reveal who she voted for in the SNP leadership contest.
Her successor is set to be announced at 2pm on Monday and she said she would give whoever wins her “100% support”.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine programme on Monday morning, Sturgeon did not rule out taking on international work after her official departure.
However, she explained she would remain in her role as an MSP until “at least” the next Holyrood election, admitting that she is “a bit of a home bird” and that she might “put her feet up for a wee while”.
"I've been reading lots of speculation about me going to work internationally... I'm not ruling anything out, but at heart I'm a bit of a home bird"@NicolaSturgeon talks about what's next after she steps down as Scotland's First Minister. #Lorraine pic.twitter.com/10oJxSuLaA
— Lorraine (@lorraine) March 27, 2023
She said: “I’ve got one vote like all SNP members. I’ve cast my vote but I’m never going to say who I cast it for.
“What I will say is whoever emerges as the new leader of the SNP today and then subject to a vote in parliament tomorrow becomes our first minister, they will have my 100% support.
“I’ll be right behind them in their corner, willing them on, wanting them to succeed every step of the way.
“Because if they succeed, the party and most important of all, the country will succeed. So whoever he or she turns out to be I’ll be their biggest champion and their biggest advocate, and I would expect my party to get absolutely right behind them too.”
Sturgeon also explained some of the issues she wanted to continue working on including climate change and women’s rights.
She added: “I just have to work out the best way of doing that. I’ve been reading lots of speculation about me going to work internationally for ages now, and you know, I’m not ruling anything out.
“But at heart I’m a bit of a home bird so I’m not sure that’s what I’ll end up doing but I’ll take a bit of time to work out what I want to do.”
She continued to say that she would not be “breathing down the neck” of whoever succeeds her.
Sturgeon also said that leaving her role as leader of the SNP would “reset” her life and that she doesn’t “really know anything else” away from a life in politics.
READ MORE: When does the new SNP leader become first minister?
“I’m going to have to take a bit of time to adapt to the transition to find a different balance to life.
“So it’s exciting and also a bit scary.”
The SNP leader will be announced at Murrayfield Stadium.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel