Edinburgh Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon is reportedly planning a surprise exit from office. The 52-year-old wants to resign after more than eight years as both party leader and “First Minister”, British media reported on Wednesday, citing government sources.
She wanted to give further details at a press conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon. It was initially unclear when Sturgeon will give up their positions.
In the struggle for Scotland’s independence from the United Kingdom, Sturgeon has recently had to put up with several setbacks: London is blocking a renewed vote she is seeking on the question of whether Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom or not.
In addition, the supporters of independence lost in the highest British court. The Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland’s regional parliament has no right to call a referendum without the consent of the UK government. Sturgeon said she was disappointed with the decision but accepted it. Independence must be achieved through legal and democratic means.
In addition, the dispute over a controversial gender law has recently weighed on the Scottish government. Among other things, the law, which the Scottish Parliament voted for last year, is intended to eliminate the requirement for a medical report as a prerequisite for changing the gender entry. The minimum age for an application should be lowered from 18 to 16 years. Trans people are people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
There was a lot of criticism, with the Harry Potter author Joanne K. Rowling being one of the most prominent critics. She and her fellow campaigners fear that men could take advantage of the simplified regulations to invade areas reserved for women, such as women’s changing rooms or toilets, for sexual motives. Supporters, on the other hand, see the law as a long-overdue reform that could make life easier for trans people and enable them to live self-determined lives.
Sturgeon has been in office since 2014. She is the longest serving Scottish head of government. She succeeded her then party colleague Alex Sammond, who has since founded a new party.