Nicola Sturgeon has quit as Scotland’s first minister in a shock announcement at a press conference in Edinburgh. Sturgeon, 52, is the first female first minister – and the longest-serving in history, having clocked up more than eight years in the role. In a 40-minute speech on Wednesday morning, she told journalists: “If the question is: can I battle on for another few months? Then the answer is: yes, of course I can.
“But if the question is: can I give this job everything it demands and deserves for another year, let alone for the remainder of this parliamentary term, give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that I have strived to do every day for the last eight years? The answer honestly is different.” She said her party was “awash with talented individuals”, while refusing to name candidates who could succeed her. Alex Salmond, Sturgeon’s predecessor, said the next first minister is “more likely to be somebody from the new generation rather than the previous Nicola generation”, before noting that Sturgeon had been his obvious successor in 2014. Here, we look at who could replace Sturgeon. John Swinney
John Swinney, her trusted deputy first minister and one of the very few senior figures in her small inner circle, could throw his hat in the ring. After Sturgeon, Swinney has the most experience in government and within the SNP. However, Swinney, 58, also served as SNP leader between 2000 and 2004 after Salmond unexpectedly quit as party leader. He had a difficult time, and in turn resigned to allow Salmond to resume as leader. Angus Robertson
Already the bookies’ favourite, Angus Robertson, the culture and external affairs secretary, and a former Westminster leader of the SNP, will be one of the main contenders. Robertson, 53, has huge experience running SNP election campaigns and, alongside Swinney, is one of the few surviving veterans of the Salmond era. He is not liked on the left of the party after forcing through a change of SNP policy, before the 2014 independence referendum, to support an independent Scotland joining Nato. Kate Forbes
Another candidate could be Kate Forbes, 32, the Scottish finance secretary and Gaelic speaker, who is on maternity leave after having her first child. Liked within the party and respected at Holyrood, Forbes would, however, face questions about her religious beliefs. She is an active member of the Free Church of Scotland, whose teachings conflict with many key SNP and Scottish government policies on gay rights and transgender issues. Humza Yousaf
Humza Yousaf, one of Scotland’s most senior Muslim and BAME politicians, is another potential candidate. Currently the health secretary, he has faced repeated demands from opposition parties that he resign over continual crises in the NHS, particularly over his failure to tackle delays in A&E waiting times. The 37-year-old is part of a fresher generation of SNP MSPs, which is what many insiders believe will keep the party’s hopes alive after a character such as Sturgeon. Yousaf has held other influential roles including justice secretary and Europe minister. Neil Gray
Although new to Holyrood in 2021, Neil Gray, 36, brings his previous experience from Westminster as an MP there since the SNP landslide of 2015. Colleagues describe him as diligent and level-headed and he has come to greater public prominence in his ministerial role, steering the Ukrainian refugee programme. Màiri McAllan
A former special adviser, Màiri McAllan has been dubbed a rising star of the party. The 30-year-old, who has served as an MSP for only two years, became environment minister weeks after winning her Clydesdale seat in 2021. Before becoming an MSP, the former solicitor worked as a special adviser to Sturgeon, giving her some insights into how the government works. She is little known outside Holyrood; the contest has come too soon for this widely tipped future leader. Keith Brown
The 61-year-old, who represents the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency, is deputy leader of the SNP, having served in this role for almost five years. Brown has held five ministerial roles since becoming an MSP in 2007, including justice secretary and economy secretary, but he is solid and workmanlike, and lacks the panache and skills to lead the party.