Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation is ‘Scotland’s real independence day’

Nicola Sturgeon has formally announced her resignation as the Scottish First Minister after more than eight years in the role, saying the “brutality” of modern politics had taken its toll. 

Ms Sturgeon said she had told the Scottish National Party to begin the process of electing a new party leader and that she would “remain in office until my successor is elected”. 

Telegraph readers rejoiced at the news, with many agreeing that she brought division across the country with her staunch pro-independence agenda and controversial trans laws.

Others look to the future in the hope that harmony can now be restored across the UK.

Here is some of the best reaction so far:

‘With her single-minded focus on independence, she allowed everything else to fall apart’

Heather Sharp: “Inevitable and expected. What took the nasty piece of work so long.

“She’s reduced Scotland – a wonderful country with many wonderful people – to a viperish cesspit of divisiveness and hatred, especially for the English. Her stupid postering over trans issues finally did for her.”

L James: “Hallelujah. The most divisive, incompetent, recklessly divisive excuse for a politician ever. This is Scotland’s real independence day.”

Robert Davies: “The irony in this. She joins the extreme-Left woke and virtue signalling brigade, who try to cancel anyone who has a different opinion to their damaging ideology – and gets cancelled herself for making the same mistakes these lefties make. 

“She either forgot or more likely chose to ignore that the silent vast majority, of which her votes depend, are the ones who she needs to listen to.”

Piggy Malone: “May I be the first to offer my congratulations to Rishi Sunak for his brave and wise decision to face down Sturgeon over the GRR madness. Result!”

S Thomas: “This cynical, manipulative politician tried to weaponise the trans debate and hit Westminster over the head with it to advance her pro-independence agenda. She was quite happy to throw vulnerable women under the bus in the process. I am delighted by her downfall.”

Mrs P L Watson: “She was an utter disaster for my country. With her single-minded focus on independence, she allowed everything else to fall apart. This last fiasco, pandering to a tiny minority whilst ignoring the rights of half the population, was the final straw. Goodbye and good riddance.”

Mike Re: “This is the reason we left the EU. In the UK, when politicians no longer have the support of the people, they either resign or get voted out. This just does not happen in the EU – Ursula von der Leyen can completely ignore the will of the people she’s president of.”

Louise Lawrence: “It’s noticeable that even her admirers can only claim that she led the SNP to many election victories – but noone can claim she did anything to improve Scotland or the lives of its residents.”

Gordon Wilson: “I don’t normally post, but for this I gladly make an exception. Good riddance to a toxic individual who has polarised the nation and who bears responsibility for abject failure across the board – the whole devolved spectrum from health, education, crime and even basic social cohesion is worse now in Scotland due to her policies and approach to governance. This truly is Scotland’s independence day and I wish those well who will have to pick up and deal with her mess.”

Cameron Gow: “A toxic individual who has never been able to comprehend that you don’t have to hate England to love Scotland.”

Jim Lewin: “Nicola Sturgeon was one of the West’s most authoritarian leaders, an enemy of free speech and someone who had no qualms about turning her country into a temporary dictatorship during the pandemic. Thank God she’s going. Let’s hope all the other Western leaders who have made the same mistakes over the last three years follow her lead and resign before they’re rejected by their electorates, starting with Justin Trudeau.”

Peter Lee: “I can’t think of a more divisive politician in the UK. She never wasted an opportunity to aggrandise herself and her pet projects and to stimulate divisions between the Scots and the rest of the UK. She seems to approach every debate like a pugilist. And now, finally, she complains about the brutality of politics of which she was a principal exponent. Nothing personal Nicola, but I politely say I am glad to see you go.”

What next?: ‘Scotland deserves better than its last two leaders’

Zeno the Stoic: “I’m not sure why Westminster is surprised she’s leaving. I could see this coming from a mile off.

“My only concern is who’s coming next. I fervently wished for Salmond’s demise only to be horrified when his replacement turned out to be far worse. Let’s hope that the same doesn’t happen again. Scotland deserves better than its last two leaders.

“Alternatively, let’s just reverse devolution. It’s been an unmitigated disaster for Scotland, Wales and London, all of whom have been taken over by tinpot dictator types who’s only ambition is to sock it to the evil English.”

Nic Williams: “I don’t actually care who comes in now, in all honesty. I’m Scottish, but none of the SNP support me or my values. I like being in the Union. I care not a jot about trans issues; I want more nuclear power stations, more North Sea oil drilled and fracking; I want to see more of rural Scotland turned into training grounds for the British army and I want to see more Union Jacks next to the Saltire.”

Nigel Wheatcroft: “The trans mess, followed by the policing mess, the education mess, the finances mess, the drugs mess, the drinking mess and, of course, the ferries mess – someone will love having to sort all that out.”

Martin Watkins: “She’s had enough: The feeling is entirely mutual.

“I don’t know the woman, I don’t know much about Scotland, but she seems to be someone filled with hate and determined to wreck anything with which she disagrees.

“I hope she is replaced with someone who is prepared to work to repair bridges so that some harmony can be restored.”

Christian Grant: “The ‘Jacinda’ resignation:

“A resignation done prior to an election knowing full well you are about to get a drubbing in the polls. A cowardly way to leave knowing the person following you will get the brunt of the public’s wrath when it’s you that deserve every bit of it for being utterly rubbish at the job you once held.

“Cult followers will be crying in the cornflakes but the rest of the normal people in Scotland will be rejoicing in the hope the SNP is about to implode and we may get a bunch of politicians that are willing to work for the nation rather than for personal gain and fantasy dreams.”

Stephen Dick: “The Nationalist movement is split down the middle now. Take a look at the likely successors. With the possible exception of Joanna Cherry, they are the most talentless and disappointing bunch. The SNP are heading straight for a precipitous fall from grace, like the Labour Party in Scotland did 15-years ago. Holyrood is the most delinquent parliament in Europe by a country mile. I have been dealing with them for the past years and so I know what I am talking about.

“Close it, please. You may find that Scots will support that. It embarrasses all of us.”

Simon Brady: “Great news for the people of Scotland.

“This is a real chance for a fresh start. To fully maximise Scotland’s potential within the UK.”

David Sewell: “Now Scotland can dare to hope again that they get a leader who concentrates on health, education, policing and reducing drug related deaths rather than seeking only to chase one goal which is not even under their own control.”

Atticus tou Vorra: “Sturgeon may have been a deluded tyrant, but she was also an effective political performer. When you’re whole aim is to sell a sow’s ear as a silk purse, you need such skills. None of her possible replacements have that, which is good news for the people of Scotland.”

Richard Andrews: “Sturgeon the despot has resigned leaving a diminished Scotland behind her. Let’s hope whoever takes over can rebuild rather than perpetuate SNP’s innumerable failings. Now London needs to push out its own despot, Sadiq Khan.”

What do you make of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as Scottish First Minister? Join the conversation in the comments section below