Sturgeon retreat in Scotland: Your big goal remains unfinished

After the announcement of the resignation of Scotland’s Prime Minister Sturgeon, there was speculation about the reasons for the step: in addition to personal reasons, there are apparently also political ones. She has not achieved her greatest goal.

Nicola Sturgeon was “First Minister”, as the Prime Minister of Scotland is officially called, for eight years. She has sat in regional parliament since 1999 – a life dedicated to Scottish politics and independence. That is why this resignation is so surprising, because their work, the detachment from the United Kingdom, is far from finished.

At noon she explained the reasons for the resignation at a press conference. Everything indicates that there are personal causes, but also political ones.

“Can I carry on as before?”

It has nothing to do with current politics, said the 52-year-old. She is exhausted. “The question is whether I can give everything that this office requires. Can I continue as before?” She did not answer with a “yes”. It is part of good leadership to know when the right time has come. Of course there are complicated issues for the government right now, but when is this not the case, asked the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Heated debate about a gender law

There was just a dispute about a gender law. The Scottish Parliament had agreed that in future a medical report would no longer be required to change a gender entry. But the British government is blocking the law. Sturgeon came under criticism.

The debate grew heated, including over a trans woman who raped two women prior to her gender reassignment and was initially being held in a women’s prison. There is speculation that this case may have contributed to Sturgeon’s resignation – that a mixture of stagnant poll numbers, tedious day-to-day business, personal reasons and ambiguity about the right path to independence led to Sturgeon’s decision.

Scottish independence remains uncompleted

Sturgeon wants to remain in office until the party names a successor. She will step down without having achieved her major goal of Scottish independence.

Sturgeon pushed for detachment from Westminster, especially after Brexit. The argument: the majority of Scots voted to remain in the European Union. Brexit hurts the nation.

But the polls are currently ambiguous. Whether the Scots would really speak out against the United Kingdom is an open question. The British government rejects a referendum. A decision by the Supreme Court upheld the government in London.

Slightly sagged in polls

Sturgeon wanted to use the next UK general election to gain support for her policies – the House of Commons elections as a fight vote on independence. A risky maneuver that was also controversial in the party. “I free the SNP to choose the path the party sees fit.” Most recently, the SNP had fallen slightly in the polls and was unable to maintain values ​​above 50 percent.

Who succeeds Sturgeon is open. Several names are mentioned, such as Treasury Secretary Kate Forbes. At a special party conference in March, the party’s path to independence was to be determined. Now the SNP needs a new party leadership. And the path to independence – and probably also the importance of the topic – are re-emphasized.