Image source, PA Media

The deputy leader of the pro-Scottish independence Alba Party has said Sturgeon's departure should lead to a recognition that the cause is about more than "one individual or one party".

Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, MP Kenny MacAskill said the SNP was "one part of the independence movement" and should use Sturgeon's departure "to recalibrate, to recognise that there have been strategic flaws, to look for a new direction".

Alba was formed in 2021 by former first minister and one-time Sturgeon ally and mentor Alex Salmond following his resignation from the SNP in 2018.

"This is an opportunity... to ensure that the independence movement is viewed as far wider than one individual or one political party," MacAskill said.

MacAskill also criticised Sturgeon for what he called her "catastrophic" decision to try to secure a second independence referendum by taking the issue to the Supreme Court, saying its ruling against her government had led the cause down a "dead end".

The UK impact of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignationpublished at 07:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2023

07:23 GMT 16 February 2023

Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

There are plenty of pro-UK politicians who are delighted that Nicola Sturgeon is standing down.

Some equate support for the Scottish National Party and independence with her personal popularity – and think her departure could have a significant electoral impact.

Whoever replaces Sturgeon will still fight for independence. They will inherit a comfortable position in the Scottish Parliament.

But they will be less well-known and have to face tricky questions on independence strategy, gender reform and fixing Scotland’s NHS.

There are Labour politicians in particular who are cock-a-hoop.

They have been eyeing a resurgence in Scotland for years and senior figures think Sturgeon’s departure opens a door for them.

That revival isn’t inevitable. I’ve covered Scottish politics for 10 years and in that time there has been little sign of anyone getting near the SNP at elections.

But Sturgeon’s departure is a big moment in Scottish politics. Nobody can be certain of what happens next.

Image source, .

The front pages of the UK and Scottish morning papers are dominated by pictures of Scotland's first minister following her shock resignation announcement yesterday.

The Daily Record leads with the headline "I want my independence" as it reflects on Nicola Sturgeon's eight years at the head of the Scottish National Party and leader of the Scottish Government.

The Herald reflects on Sturgeon's comment in her speech that she is a human being as well as a politician, saying her resignation speech was "emotional but dignified".

The Independent says her decision to go could "set back" the cause of Scottish independence while the FT says the SNP is "at a crossroads".

Find out what else the UK papers have to say in our full review and you can see all the Scottish front pages here.

In case you missed it, here's a quick round-up of how yesterday's astonishing events unfolded.

• Nicola Sturgeon called a surprise press conference and announced that she was resigning as Scotland's first minister after eight years in the job
• Sturgeon said modern politics "takes its toll" on politicians and those around them and that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that it was the right time to stand down
• The news followed months of difficult headlines about controversial reforms to gender recognition laws and whether the SNP should fight the next election as a de facto independence referendum
• Despite the political pressure Sturgeon faced, the announcement surprised even many of her allies
• She said her decision was not a reaction to short-term difficulties, but the result of a "deeper and longer-term assessment"
• Sturgeon will also step down as SNP leader but will remain in office until a replacement is found
• Nominations to stand to replace her have now opened
• Tributes came in from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanking Sturgeon for her "long-standing service" and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer praising her "dedication and passion"

Image source, PA Media

We're bringing you further live coverage and reaction this morning following the resignation of Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest news, comment and debate about Sturgeon's legacy, and look forward to the coming contest to replace her as leader of the Scottish National Party.

After what has been a truly historic day in Scottish and UK politics that took most of us by surprise, here's a reminder of the main headlines;

• Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that she is resigning as Scotland's first minister
• The FM told a press conference at Bute House "in my head and in my heart" that this was the right time to step down
• Sturgeon is also stepping down as SNP leader but will remain in office until her successor is elected
• Nominations for Sturgeon's successor have now opened

• The FM wants the SNP to fight the next general election as a de facto referendum
• However there has been some opposition to the plan within the SNP

• In addition, recent months have seen controversies over gender reforms, which have been blocked by the UK government
• Sturgeon said her decision was not a reaction to short-term pressures, but came from "a deeper and longer-term assessment"
• Tributes have poured in from party colleagues and from across the political spectrum
• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has thanked Sturgeon for her "long-standing service", while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saluted her "dedication and passion"

We're wrapping up our live coverage now on what has been a momentous day in Scotland's history. Thank you for joining us. You can read more on Sturgeon's resignation here.

It's far from obvious who will replace Sturgeonpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2023

19:51 GMT 15 February 2023

Chris Mason
Political editor

Nicola Sturgeon became Scotland’s first minister before either the prime minister or the Labour leader Keir Starmer were even MPs.

She was a beneficiary of defeat, but ultimately a loser in victory.

The SNP’s fortunes were turbo charged after failing to win the independence referendum in 2014.

But, despite successive election victories, the prospect of independence — even another referendum on it any time soon — appeared to be slipping away.

It did so as other political problems mounted.

The NHS and schools.

The thunderously angry row about trans rights.

And questions about the SNP‘s finances some think could have proved deeply uncomfortable to a serving first minister.

All this too as Labour’s opinion poll ratings across the UK have soared — potentially robbing the SNP of a key calling card to the Scottish electorate — that it so often gets Conservative governments at Westminster it doesn’t vote for.

Many expected her to serve until after the next election.

Instead, she’s going and it’s far from obvious who will replace her.

What is clear tonight is the private reactions of her political opponents — in expressing relief at her departure — pay her the ultimate compliment as to her effectiveness.

For now, a huge figure in Scottish politics and a big figure on the UK stage too prepares to leave.

Image source, PA Media

Kate Forbes, who was finance secretary before going on maternity leave, has released a statement paying tribute to Nicola Sturgeon's leadership over the last eight years.

Forbes, who also appears to be the bookies' favourite to succeed Sturgeon, said she had led the country with "distinction, resilience and compassion".

Image source, Reuters

Ian Blackford says he is "very saddened" by today's news that Nicola Sturgeon is to step down.

The former leader of the SNP at Westminster told BBC Radio 4 it's "perfectly understandable given that Nicola has been in public life for so long.

"But I'm just so grateful that she's been in a position to lead us over the last few years and I think we should reflect on the leadership that she gave to us at the time of Covid."

On how much of a loss Ms Sturgeon is to the SNP and its electoral prospects, Mr Blackford says: "She has laid the foundations, I believe, that will see the next leader be able to take the party, the movement, the country onto independence. "

Image source, PA Media

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens co-leader and Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights told BBC Radio Scotland that he had not known about the resignation until today.

He said he wouldn't try to second guess the "very personal judgement" Sturgeon had made.

But Mr Harvie said people across the political spectrum will "recognise the tireless and trusted leadership she particularly gave through the pandemic".

"Scotland owes her a debt of gratitude" for her commitment in the job, he added.

Mr Harvie said the co-operation between the SNP and his party "exemplifies" politics at its best at a time of hostility and toxicity in the political landscape and that he hoped it will continue under the next leader.

In announcing her departure, Nicola Sturgeon referred to the "intensity" and "brutality" of the life of a politician.

These are some of the recent moments from her political career where she didn't hold back her thoughts on the government, Jeremy Clarkson and possible controversial haircuts.

SNP's electoral success under Sturgeonpublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2023

19:23 GMT 15 February 2023

Oscar Bentley
BBC News

The SNP’s electoral showing under Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership has been incredibly strong.

In both the 2021 and 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, they achieved just under half the constituency vote – 48% and 47%, respectively.

Combining those seats with the additional ones they gained from the list vote gave them almost half the seats up for grabs. Scotland has an additional member vote system that makes it much harder to gain an overall majority.

In the elections for the Westminster Parliament, they’ve also performed extremely well – 45% in 2019 and 50% in 2015. It was a lower 32% in 2017, although they were still by far the best performing party from Scotland.

Such is their dominance in Scottish politics at Westminster, only 11 seats from Scotland didn’t elect an SNP MP in 2019. In 2015 it was just three.

The last couple of months has seen a small drop in the opinion polls for the SNP however – although they’re still way ahead of other parties.

The soon to be former first minister’s personal popularity has also dropped – although it’s still much considerably higher than most other UK politicians.

Image source, Getty Images

SNP MP Joanna Cherry has tweeted, external that Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell can no longer continue as the party's chief executive.

The MP for Edinburgh South West said: "The SNP leadership and party management have been deeply bound together.

"I cannot see any circumstances in which Peter Murrell can continue as chief executive under a new leader who must be free to choose a successor. Meantime we need a neutral caretaker CEO."

Her comments come after an SNP spokesperson said party Murrell would be staying on in post.

Questions have mounted over a loan of over £100,000 that Murrell gave to the SNP in June 2021 to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election.

In recent weeks, Sturgeon was quizzed on the origin of finances used by her husband for the loan but said the funds were entirely his own.

People in Nicola Sturgeon's constituency have been giving their reaction to her resignation announcement.

Sturgeon will remain First Minister until her successor is elected by the SNP, and she says she will stay as an MSP for Glasgow Southside until at least the next Holyrood election in May 2026.

Image source, PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon has recently come under fire over the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - which aims to make it easier for people to legally change their gender.

MSPs voted in December to pass the bill by 86 votes to 39.

But outcry over the placement of trans prisoners - including double rapist Isla Bryson - has brought further heat into the gender reform debate.

Some campaigners for trans rights say society is indulging in a bout of moral panic, increasing the risk of transgender people being the victims of hate crimes which were already rising sharply.

A wide range of organisations, from Amnesty International to Scottish Womens Aid and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, have been robust defenders of the law.

However opponents say the act would conflict with the Westminster Equality Act 2010 by, for example, making it more difficult for women-only spaces to exclude people who were born biologically male.

The UK government has blocked it from receiving royal assent - a move that has not been used in the history of devolution.

Read more: How damaging is the trans prisoners row for the SNP?

Sturgeon's successor has big shoes to fillpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 15 February 2023

18:55 GMT 15 February 2023

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

There is no obvious successor.

The person expected to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader was Derek MacKay who had to quit ministerial office and ultimately parliament after a scandal.

John Swinney, the deputy first minister has been leader before, but had to resign after losing three elections in a row.

The deputy leader of the SNP Keith Brown sits in cabinet as justice secretary, and may fancy having a go, but may not have the necessary profile.

Angus Robertson is also a cabinet minister and has experience as Westminster leader of the party. At one point Humza Yousaf, the health secretary, and Kate Forbes, the finance secretary, were tipped as potential future leaders. But with the health service in crisis and Ms Forbes about to return from maternity leave, timing may be against them.

That leaves open the possibility of skipping a generation to the likes of the Environment Minister Mairi McAllan or the Culture Minister Neil Gray, who’ve both impressed since their election to Holyrood two years ago.

Nicola Sturgeon has been at the forefront of Scottish politics for years. Her shoes are big ones for the party and the country to fill.

Labour's Ian Murray tells the BBC News Channel there are a "lot of unanswered questions" about the "hastily arranged" news conference this morning.

The Edinburgh South MP says Sturgeon had "her problems piling up" and "her party has become riven with division and infighting and maybe that was just too much for her to bear and carry on".

He accepts she is a formidable political operator but says the key thing is to press the reset button, saying that his party leader Anas Sarwar is the "insurgent in Scottish politics" and that new Labour UK government is looking more likely.

Image source, Reuters

President of the SNP Michael Russell has said he expects the process to elect a new leader, which is usually very lengthy, to be "shortened" and that he expects it to be a "contested election".

"I think that will be good for the SNP, to have different points of view contesting in a respectful way. I think we will decide that pretty soon and have a clear timetable that will take us forward," he told Radio 4's PM programme.

Speaking about whether the next general election in Scotland will be treated as a referendum on Scottish independence, Russell said "it would be the right thing to do".

However, he said that the priority is to "get a new leader in place".

He said the road to a referendum has been "blocked" by Westminster and added that "you have to have a way for the people of Scotland to express their opinion".

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Actress and theatre star Elaine C Smith tells Radio Scotland's Drivetime as a human being and a woman she was not surprised by the first minister's decision.

"We all live in a kind of toxic atmosphere at the moment," she explains, and says she has been "astonished about the relentlessness of the attacks" on Sturgeon.

Smith, who was also the first president of the Scottish Independence Convention, says it's probably quite an astute move to step aside.

She says there is a high level of misogyny from men and indeed other women towards Sturgeon.

Blair Jenkins, who led the official campaign for Scottish independence in 2014, told Radio Scotland Sturgeon's announcement is a surprise.

The former chief executive of the Yes Campaign says having heard her this morning, she has reached the right conclusion.

The SNP will hold a special conference next month to decide "the way forward to secure independence" and Jenkins says he thinks it will take two or three years to reach a successful conclusion.

He says Sturgeon was right to resign before this new phase of campaigning begins.

"Most people will think she made the right decision."