NICOLA Sturgeon has confirmed that she will not be standing for election in 2026.
The former first minister said she would be stepping down as an MSP at the next Holyrood elections in a post on Instagram on Wednesday.
A former SNP leader, Sturgeon has been in the Edinburgh parliament since it was reconvened in 1999.
In a statement announcing her resignation as an MSP, Sturgeon said that she hoped to "contribute in different ways" to making Scottish independence a "reality".
The MSP said that "being one of the original 1999 Members of the Scottish Parliament, serving (by the time of the election) for 27 years – almost exactly half my life – and getting to represent Glasgow Southside, the best constituency in Scotland, has been an honour beyond words".
She went on: “I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life. I have therefore written this morning to SNP members in my constituency informing them that I will not be seeking selection for next year’s Holyrood election.
“To my constituents, past and present: thank you for the trust you have placed in me. Being your MSP has been my privilege and I will continue to represent you to the best of my abilities until I step down next year.
“To Southside SNP members: your support, loyalty and friendship, through thick and thin, has meant more to me than you will ever know. You are the best of the best.
“To SNP members across the country: I may be leaving Parliament, but I will be by your side every step of the way as we complete our journey to independence.”
Sturgeon was the longest serving first minister in Scottish history, holding the top job since taking over from her mentor Alex Salmond following the loss of the independence referendum in 2014.
During her time in charge, she led the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and was responsible for setting up Scotland’s devolved benefits agency.
She shocked the political world in early 2023 by announcing she planned to stand down from the top job.
Within months of her announcement, her husband – and former SNP chief executive – Peter Murrell was arrested in relation to a police probe into the SNP’s finances. He was later re-arrested and charged in connection with the alleged embezzlement of party funds.
Sturgeon was arrested months later in relation to the same probe, Operation Branchform, as was former party treasurer Colin Beattie.
They were both released without charge pending further inquiries. This year, Police Scotland has updated its media statement to suggest that its probe has concluded, though the Crown Office's may be ongoing.
Earlier this year, Sturgeon announced that she and Murrell had “decided to end” their marriage.
The former SNP leader will release a book about her life and political career this summer.
