“Nicola Sturgeon has been the most popular, electorally successful, and inspirational politician for decades. She has led Scotland through some of our toughest times from Brexit, the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis – and she has done it with skill, attention to detail, and with an abundance of humanity and personality.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s commitment to Scotland has been unmatched, and she has taken the SNP and the independence movement even closer to our primary goal.

“I am so sad to see her step down and her shoes will be very big to fill, nonetheless I know whoever takes the reins of the SNP leader and First Minister will build on the foundations Nicola Sturgeon has laid.”