NICOLA Sturgeon’s political decisions have invariably been sure-footed and carefully considered and so the resignation of the First Minister cannot be viewed as a reaction to more recent events such as gender recognition issues but an admission that she has taken her party as far as she feasibly can at present.
I regret her decision to stand down as the de facto leader of the Scottish independence movement and realise, like most objective observers, that she will be a hell of an act to follow.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: My resignation will boost Scottish independence
She has been the consummate professional throughout her time as SNP leader, a political colossus who commanded respect from supporters and opponents alike. On the world and European stages, Ms Sturgeon has represented Scotland with integrity, gravitas and genuine sophistication and is regarded as one of the leading stateswomen on the international stage. In the UK she stands out above the mendacity, mediocrity and ineptitude of other leaders and political adversities, ensuring the likes of Messrs Ross, Sarwar and Cole-Hamilton remain domestically toothless and figures of ridicule.
The all-consuming post that she has held and the ravages of leading the country so superbly through Covid and subsequent events have clearly exhausted her, and it is a wonder that she has not made her decision to resign before now.
READ MORE: From activist to leader: Nicola Sturgeon's political life in pictures
History will judge Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s Moses, the midwife of independence who sacrificed her considerable skills to achieve self-determination for her country.
Independence for this country is no longer a question of if but of when, and the outstanding role she has played in taking us to our current position of strength will never be forgotten.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
THE resignation of Nicola Sturgeon is a deliverance for the independence movement.
In 2014 when Sturgeon took over she inherited a movement that was vibrant, bottom-up, grassroots-led, dynamic, optimistic and most of all united. She hands on to her successor a legacy of bitterness, division and inaction on re-establishing Scotland’s ancient right of independence.
What the independence movement needed was leadership and tactical thinking. What it got was narcissism and self-importance. Cult-like behaviour was encouraged. The previous leader was denounced, internal democracy was dismantled. A coterie of fawning brown-nosers was appointed to Cabinet positions. Loyalty to the leader, not ability, was the only consideration.
READ MORE: The maddest UK media reactions to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation
When it came to independence, Sturgeon’s support was tepid at best. In the years since the 2014 defeat, conditions for regaining independence could not have been better. Brexit, Covid-19, an economic meltdown, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
Yet with all these favourable conditions Sturgeon refused to fight. Instead “woke” lunacy was pursued. The GRR was brought forward. Opponents were branded bigots and a large section of independence supporters actually cheered on a Westminster veto.
Now there is a the vacuum at the top of the SNP with no natural successor. Again this is entirely the fault of Sturgeon, who would not tolerate the emergence of anyone who would outshine her.
READ MORE: POLL: Who should take over from Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister?
The worst aspect of Sturgeon’s reign is that because the independence movement is now associated with her, Unionist hacks and politicians are able to say it's finished.
The independence movement is bigger than one person, party or government. Sturgeon’s successor needs to be a unifier who will take on the Westminster Tories with action and not empty rhetoric.
Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee
I CAN’T believe what Chris McEleny has said in support of his party Alba, concerning reasons why support for independence in Scotland is dropping according to himself (Alba member slams 'focus on destroying FM and SNP, Feb 15).
The A9 dualling is being rescheduled with the appropriate government department seeking fresh contracts. So no immediate problems there.
The policy to deal with “self-identification”, which I think might be a reference to the GRR, I’ll concede the problems associated with that one, but mebby not irreconcilable in the near future.
And then the “looming problems of the bottle return scheme”. Myself and many of my age have reported about such similar schemes existing during our youth, where bottles were collected and gladly received back into the system for the price of a few pennies. I don’t see how 20p would bankrupt similarly.
READ MORE: Grassroots Yes activists react to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation
These few Alba quoted examples are basically day-to-day government business details. Just what has Alba contributed to Scotland’s governance?
So, the First Minister’s press conference is over. Her resignation has nothing to do with her day-to-day running of the country or her successes and failures in achieving necessary policies. She has simply run out of steam enough to continue with the necessary commitment she has put in thus far.
Time to move on and let someone else within the SNP pick up the baton in running the country, perhaps at a slightly different angle with the same or similar policies in mind. Particularly where independence is concerned, which is to remain foremost for Nicola Sturgeon as a backbench member of the Scottish Parliament.
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife
WELL, that’s Nicola away. I hope that Mr McKenna is happy (and JK Rowling). Seeing how clever he is (at least according to his own words), he might be able to tell us all just how the hell this helps the cause of independence?
Andrew Haddow
Glasgow
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