tonight at ten, we're live in edinburgh, where the first minister nicola sturgeon has taken everyone by surprise, by announcing her resignation. after eight years in charge, she said the time was right to step down, but it was nothing to do with any current controversies. being your first minister has been the privilege of my life. nothing, absolutely nothing i do in future will ever come anywhere close. thank you from the very bottom of my heart. the first woman to be first minister of scotland, and a record period in office — ms sturgeon�*s decision will have implications for politics across the uk. well let me first start by paying

tribute to nicola sturgeon for her long—standing public service, and i wish her well in the future. nicola sturgeon�*s record as an impressive vote winner is undisputed — but her record in power has divided opinion in scotland. i really liked her, as a person as well as a first minister. she's not done anything for scotland. they need somebody to take over, somebody— they need somebody to take over, somebody fresh to take over. also on the programme... police reveal that the missing woman nicola bulley had alcohol—related issues connected to the menopause. the one—year—old who's received the most expensive medicine ever approved for the nhs — a £3 million life saving gene therapy. ican rub i can rub and scrub this house... and the hollywood film star and model, raquel welch, has died at the age of 82.

and coming up on the bbc news channel. high stakes both on the continent and domestically at the top two battle in the premier league while chelsea aim for a first leg lead in the champions league. good evening from edinburgh, from the home of the scottish parliament, which for the past eight years, has been dominated by the powerful figure of the first minister nicola sturgeon. her sudden announcement today, that she is to step down, both as leader of the snp and as first minister, will change the political landscape here in scotland, and will no doubt have a wider impact, on the politics of the united kingdom. ms sturgeon insisted that her decision was not related to any current controversies, and that she'd been considering her future for some time. she said that after a record period as first minister,

the job had taken its toll. in recent months, ms sturgeon has seen her controversial gender reforms blocked by westminster, and her plans to hold an independence referendum, blocked by the uk supreme court. in tonight's programme, we'll be looking at the sturgeon legacy, and the reaction to her resignation, but we start with the announcement that very few had predicted. here's our scotland editorjames cook. no one has done the job longer, no other woman has done it at all. good morning, everyone. thank you for coming along. but nicola sturgeon says the job description of first minister includes knowing when to call it a day. in my head and in my heart, i know that time is now, that it is right for me, for my party and for the country. and so, today i am announcing my intention is to step

down as first minister and leader of my party. individual polls come and go, but i am firmly of the view that there is no majority support for independence in scotland, but that support needs to be solidified, and it needs to grow further if our independent scotland is to have the best possible foundation. to achieve that, we must reach across the divide in scottish politics. the divide is cultural as well as constitutional. the case of the double rapist posing particular problems for the first minister and highlighting concerns about her attempts to make it easier to legally change gender. they are splits in the snp about her desire to attend the next general election into a referendum on independence in all but name. in into a referendum on independence in all but name-— all but name. in making my decision clear now i — all but name. in making my decision clear now i feed _ all but name. in making my decision clear now i feed the _ all but name. in making my decision clear now i feed the snp _ all but name. in making my decision clear now i feed the snp to - all but name. in making my decision clear now i feed the snp to choose i clear now i feed the snp to choose the path it believes is the right

one. worrying about the perceived implications of my leadership in the knowledge that a new leader will steer us, i believe successfully on that path. steer us, i believe successfully on that ath. , ~ , ., that path. first minister, i think it is fair to _ that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say _ that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say the _ that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say the nhs - that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say the nhs is - that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say the nhs is in - that path. first minister, i think it is fair to say the nhs is in a i it is fair to say the nhs is in a really serious situation. the attainment gap between rich and poor peoples, which you said was one of your core missions as first minister remains pretty wide and despite what you are saying today, polls suggest you have got nowhere near creating a sustained majority for independence. do you have regrets about one or any of those issues?— of those issues? again, james, i am a human being _ of those issues? again, james, i am a human being and _ of those issues? again, james, i am a human being and i _ of those issues? again, james, i am a human being and i don't _ of those issues? again, james, i am a human being and i don't know- of those issues? again, james, i am a human being and i don't know if. a human being and i don't know if you have regrets about anything in your life, but of course. there are things as first minister i am hugely proud of. if i had my time again i might do differently. there will be plenty of time for me to do that, plenty of time for me to do that, plenty of time for me to do that, plenty of time for you to do that,

and i'm sure you will.— and i'm sure you will. nicola sturgeon — and i'm sure you will. nicola sturgeon is _ and i'm sure you will. nicola sturgeon is not _ and i'm sure you will. nicola sturgeon is not leaving - and i'm sure you will. nicola| sturgeon is not leaving office because she faces imminent electoral defeat, far from because she faces imminent electoral defeat, farfrom it. her party is still well ahead in the polls and although she divides opinion, there is a lot of support for her. it seems she is going out of a combination of frustration and fatigue. and while she has been here, there have been five uk prime ministers. rishi sunak, the one to land in that awkward position of praising his opponent. let land in that awkward position of praising his opponent.— land in that awkward position of praising his opponent. let me first start by paying _ praising his opponent. let me first start by paying tribute _ praising his opponent. let me first start by paying tribute to - praising his opponent. let me first start by paying tribute to nicola i start by paying tribute to nicola sturgeon for her long—standing public— sturgeon for her long—standing public service. i wish her well in the future _ public service. i wish her well in the future. obviously nicola and i didnt— the future. obviously nicola and i didn't agree on everything in our time _ didn't agree on everything in our time we — didn't agree on everything in our time we work together, i'm pleased we were _ time we work together, i'm pleased we were able announce two free port in scotlane — we were able announce two free port in scotland-— in scotland. paying his tribute, scottish labour's _ in scotland. paying his tribute, scottish labour's leader - in scotland. paying his tribute, | scottish labour's leader recalled tussles of old. i scottish labour's leader recalled tussles of old.— tussles of old. i first met nicola sturueon tussles of old. i first met nicola sturgeon when _ tussles of old. i first met nicola sturgeon when i _ tussles of old. i first met nicola sturgeon when i was _ tussles of old. i first met nicola sturgeon when i was 12 - tussles of old. i first met nicola sturgeon when i was 12 years i tussles of old. i first met nicolal sturgeon when i was 12 years old because — sturgeon when i was 12 years old because she _ sturgeon when i was 12 years old because she was _ sturgeon when i was 12 years old because she was standing - sturgeon when i was 12 years old because she was standing in - sturgeon when i was 12 years old because she was standing in an. because she was standing in an

election— because she was standing in an election against— because she was standing in an election against my _ because she was standing in an election against my father. - because she was standing in an. election against my father. there has been — election against my father. there has been lots _ election against my father. there has been lots of _ election against my father. there has been lots of disagreements, i election against my father. there - has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments— has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments and _ has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments and lots _ has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments and lots of— has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments and lots of back - has been lots of disagreements, lots of arguments and lots of back and i of arguments and lots of back and forth _ of arguments and lots of back and forth but — of arguments and lots of back and forth but one _ of arguments and lots of back and forth. but one thing _ of arguments and lots of back and forth. but one thing you _ of arguments and lots of back and forth. but one thing you cannot i forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, — forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, this— forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, this is— forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, this is an _ forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, this is an able _ forth. but one thing you cannot doubt, this is an able politician| doubt, this is an able politician and someone _ doubt, this is an able politician and someone who _ doubt, this is an able politician and someone who has- doubt, this is an able politician and someone who has been. doubt, this is an able politician and someone who has been inl doubt, this is an able politician - and someone who has been in politics for 20 _ and someone who has been in politics for 20 years— and someone who has been in politics for 20 years and — and someone who has been in politics for 20 years and that _ and someone who has been in politics for 20 years and that level— and someone who has been in politics for 20 years and that level of- for 20 years and that level of service _ for 20 years and that level of service. �* ., , ., ., service. alex salmond is now a olitical service. alex salmond is now a political opponent, _ service. alex salmond is now a political opponent, meant - service. alex salmond is now a political opponent, meant to l service. alex salmond is now a i political opponent, meant to turn tormentor. i political opponent, meant to turn tormentor. ., political opponent, meant to turn tormentor-_ political opponent, meant to turn tormentor. . ., . ., , , tormentor. i am not certain this is auoin to tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be _ tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be a _ tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be a bad _ tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be a bad thing. _ tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be a bad thing. there - tormentor. i am not certain this is going to be a bad thing. there is i going to be a bad thing. there is talent in the snp and the key litmus testis talent in the snp and the key litmus test is whether the next leader seize the opportunity to redefine the strategy for independence, broaden the base of the independence campaign and start articulating the fundamental case for scottish self—determination. so fundamental case for scottish self-determination. so nicola sturgeon's — self-determination. so nicola sturgeon's sudden _ self-determination. so nicola sturgeon's sudden departure | self-determination. so nicola - sturgeon's sudden departure creates a moment of uncertainty for the snp. the scotland and also the future of the uk itself. james cook is with me now. why now did the decision take everyone by surprise? it is

why now did the decision take everyone by surprise?- why now did the decision take everyone by surprise? it is a very aood everyone by surprise? it is a very good question- — everyone by surprise? it is a very good question. it _ everyone by surprise? it is a very good question. it did _ everyone by surprise? it is a very good question. it did come - good question. it did come relatively speaking out of the blue. it is something of a shock. but it is not a complete surprise because the pressure had been mounting on nicola sturgeon. there was no immediate existential threat that was going to push her out of office, but she was under pressure from a whole variety of issues. we had about some of them in terms of the national health service, in terms of education and in terms, most of all this year, gender. there are a lot of issues for her there and there is also the question about whether she was running out of road towards independence. particularly in trying to advance this idea of turning this next general election into a de facto referendum, as it is called, on independence. that had caused considerable disquiet from within the party and what we heard from her there saying, this frees up the party to perhaps, she didn't quite

say it, but to perhaps amend that decision without being concerned about her leadership. i also think it would be a mistake to understate the effect covid had on her psychologically. she talks about it a lot and i think it opened her eyes to the possibility of a world outside politics where some things may even matter more.— outside politics where some things may even matter more. james, we will talk later about — may even matter more. james, we will talk later about the _ may even matter more. james, we will talk later about the legacy _ may even matter more. james, we will talk later about the legacy and - may even matter more. james, we will talk later about the legacy and some . talk later about the legacy and some of those who might be wanting to succeed, but for now, thanks very much. the challenges facing the incoming first minister, whoever that is, are considerable. the scottish government is responsible for major areas of domestic policy, including health and education. the state of the nhs in scotland is a cause of deep concern, and the issue of pay for public sector workers is proving to be just as challenging here as it is in england. but nicola sturgeon's supporters point to her undisputed record of success in five elections

to holyrood and to westminster. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon has been to greenock to talk to people about their response to nicola stu rgeon's resignation. greenock in inverclyde, on its quiet high street the news and noise surrounding nicola sturgeon's resignation has been filtering through. i'm sad, i nearly cried. really? yes. big deal then, nicola sturgeon going for you? yes it is. yep, but you've got to move on. popular among some, others glad she is going. ijust think it's time that she resigned. anyway, she needed to resign. why? i don't know, ijust don't... she's not done anything for scotland. scotland voted against independence in 2014. this area, though, was almost evenly divided amongst those voting yes and no. those divisions still evident

amongst diners in this local cafe. celebrating or commiserating ? oh, i'll be commiserating. i think it's a sad loss to politics. i don't think personally, i don't think anybody can touch her as far as politicians are concerned, she's as sharp as a tack. i'm ex—nhs and i think since the snp campe in, in particular nicola, the health service has slid down the hill in scotland. so what do you make of her resigning? i actually quite agree with her going. i think she's come to the end of her road. parts of greenock have high levels of deprivation. the work nicola sturgeon's government has done to tackle this appreciated by many here, although some do have doubts about more recent decisions, she has made. free bus passes for over 60, the schoolkids that all get bus passes. so that helps them get to school on the dark mornings. do you feel like she's had areas where she's been less surefooted? well, with the transgender.

yeah, i didn't agree with that. well, you're in the most socially deprived area in scotland, so i suppose the snp policies that she's driven and kind of led have helped this area, you know. like what? the child payments, the baby boxes, you know, anything that's kind of helped promote and improve child poverty that's helping this area. so yeah, i think she's been a big advocate for that. for years, nicola sturgeon has been the most recognisable figure in scottish politics. as she steps down from leading, though not from politics altogether, the race to the top to succeed her will now get under way. lorna gordon, bbc news, greenock. nicola sturgeon has been all—powerful in the world of scottish politics for over eight years, but her politicaljourney started during her teenage years, as a believer in independence

for scotland and a committed member of the scottish national party. in her statement today, she acknowledged that dealing with the covid pandemic had been the most challenging period she'd known. and some of her own party colleagues have been highly critical of her approach to the question of another referendum on independence. bbc scotland's martin geissler looks at nicola sturgeon's legacy. it's a journey which began on the doorsteps of ayrshire and took her to the highest office in the land. when a teenage nicola sturgeon was delivering leaflets in the �*80s, the snp were a fringe party. neither she nor they could have imagined what lay ahead. nicola sturgeon! cheering. the first years of her leadership must have felt like a dream. shy by nature, she was filling arenas and strutting the stage like a rock star. scottish politics had never seen the likes. it is now a significant force in british politics,

not only scottish politics, and indeed if the next uk election produces a hung parliament, the snp presence at westminster might yet prove to be a crucial form of leverage for securing another referendum. but the good times didn't last long. alex salmond, sturgeon's mentor, was cleared of a series of sex charges in court. the case caused a rift between the pair that would never heal. there were struggles on policy as well — on health, education and on the economy. it is argued that scotland is worse off now than when she took over. recent controversial policies, on gender reform most particularly, prompted claims she had either lost touch with or stopped caring about the public mood. there is all of that. all those problems and more, and yet half of scotland, give or take, is still foursquare behind nicola sturgeon and her vision of an independent future. the problem is, that needle is not

shifting, not really, and the polls suggest she will struggle to get her lifelong ambition across the line. so she has decided that it is somebody else's battle now, but she promised today she will stay in the fight, right behind them. i firmly believe that my successor, whoever he or she may be, will lead scotland to independence and i will be there cheering him or her on, every single step of the way. even nicola sturgeon's enemies admire her strengths — a tireless worker and a great communicator, she still has approval ratings any leader anywhere would envy. i've probably had more disagreements with nicola sturgeon, or certainly more public ones, than anybody else. i still disagree with nicola sturgeon on everything, but it doesn't mean i don't have enough appreciation of the effort level that has been put in to say i wish her well in what happens next. and so the show is over. scotland's leading lady — rock star to some,

villain to others — is leaving the stage and her own indelible mark on the country. martin geissler, bbc news, edinburgh. well, let's have a word with our political editor, chris mason. we talked a little bit about the impact on scotland, which clearly is significant, is a wider impact too. there really is, nicola sturgeon is a huge figure in scottish politics, but the snp on her watch have become a big political ploy around the uk. she has been first minister longer than the prime minister or keir starmer have even been mps, so a towering figure here and around the uk. but i figure who despite winning election after election after election after election after election was repeatedly denied the very thing that drives are in politics, that desire for

independence, a desire for a referendum. those in the snp say thatis referendum. those in the snp say that is unjust, but nonetheless it is a political reality, and alongside all the other political problems that were stacking up for her perhaps meant a harsh decision taken by her in private, concluding that the time was best to go. before potentially things get tricky for the snp, what is really striking tonight, speaking to her political opponents, conservative and labour figures privately, as they say they are relieved, and expressing that relief, they are paying her the ultimate political compliment, because they are acknowledging that she was a formidable opponent to face. those who believe in the union macro of the nations of the uk are opposed to scottish independence, and they are delighted, they think their cause has been advanced as a result. for scotland, a period of soul—searching, particularly for the snp, with the awesome responsibility of picking a new first minister from a very open field, very few would

have much certainty over how it will turn out, in scotland soon to be under new political leadership. i'll be back with more from edinburgh later, but for the rest of the day's news, let's join sophie in the studio. police have revealed today that nicola bulley, the woman who went missing last month while walking her dog in a village in lancashire, had "some significant issues with alcohol" brought on by struggles with the menopause. she went missing almost three weeks ago near the river wyre. our correspondent danny savage has the latest. when nicola bulley�*s partner reported her disappearance, information given immediately classed her as a high—risk missing person. police say this was due to specific vulnerabilities, namely an issue with alcohol brought on by ongoing struggles with the menopause. in a statement, they added:

no—one was arrested in relation to the incident, but it is still being investigated. i've asked you to respect the family, who are going through unimaginable pain and distress at this moment. but those vulnerabilities based our decision—making in terms of grading nicola as high risk. detectives say it is unusual to go into such detail about someone's private life but they want to avoid speculation. this is the bench where nicola bulley�*s mobile phone was found. police today said her dog was discovered between the bench and the gate. the dogs harness was found between the bench and the water. a police expert also told us today that at the time she disappeared, there was enough flow in the water to have carried her down over a nearby weir and on towards the sea. nothing has contradicted

their theory that nicola bulley fell in the river. there is no evidence whatsoever, or information, to suggest any third—party involvement or nicola leaving that field. the search goes on to help a family get answers. danny savage, bbc news, lancashire. the former labour leader jeremy corbyn has called sir keir starmer�*s decision to bar him from standing at the next general election "a flagrant attack on democracy." mr corbyn, who currently sits as an independent, was suspended as a labour mp in 2020 in a row over anti—semitism. sir keir said labour is now unrecognisable from 2019 and told members, "if you don't like that, the door is open and you can leave." the death toll from the earthquakes in turkey and syria has now reached more than 41,000. but nearly ten days after the devastating quakes, there are still people being rescued alive from under the rubble.

today, a 74—year—old woman was pulled from the ruins of her home near the epicentre in the city of maras. she had buried under the rubble for 226 hours before she was found. a one—year—old girl who has a rare inherited condition that severely damages the brain and nervous system has become the first child to be treated by the nhs using a new life—saving gene therapy. the treatment costs almost £3 million and is the most expensive medicine ever approved for the nhs. the little girl was diagnosed after her three—year—old sister was found to have the same life limiting condition, called mld. she, however, cannot be treated. our medical editor, fergus walsh, has been following the family since the start of teddi's treatment last summer. teddi and nala have mld — metachromatic leukodystrophy. this little piggy went to market... children are born apparently healthy,

but the condition gradually attacks the brain and body. ..all the way home. are you a ladybird? ladybird! this was nala when she was two. now, a year later, she can't walk or talk and is tube—fed. her body is basically kind of gradually shutting down. she will lose her eyesight, she will lose most of her senses, and it will basically come to a point where there is nothing left for her to lose. nala's mld progressed too far for her to be treated. but it meant the condition was picked up in her sister teddi before damage was done. she's at royal manchester children's hospital having stem cells removed from her blood, the first stage of a ground—breaking gene therapy. so when they told us that there was treatment

available for teddi, it was kind of like, a bit like a bit of a bitter pill to swallow because nala can't be helped, so, you know, we are extremely grateful in one sense and then really sad on the other. two months later, teddi's personalised therapy, called libmeldy, is ready. scientists have added a working copy of the faulty gene which causes mld to teddi's cells. they're your cells. libmeldy costs more than £2.8 million, though the nhs has agreed a confidential discount. this one—off infusion aims to stop teddi's disease in its tracks. teddi will need to spend several more weeks in hospital while her gene—altered cells make their way to her bone marrow and start to produce the crucial missing enzyme that causes her condition.

fewer than ten children a year in the uk are likely to be eligible for libmeldy — one reason why the price tag is so high. teddi's doctors are trialling similar treatments for other rare conditions. i think it will be transformative in genetic diseases. libmeldy shows that we can take their own stem cells, put in the gene that their illness is deficient or faulty in, and correct the condition. teddi can expect a healthy future. but nala is terminally ill. her parents want mld screened for at birth, so it's always picked up early enough for treatment. fergus walsh, bbc news. you can watch bittersweet medicine, fergus' exclusive programme looking at the patients, families and clinicians using the uk's most expensive medicine, on bbc iplayer now.

football, and manchester city have beaten arsenal 3—1 to leapfrog them and go top of the premier league, though arsenal still have a game in hand. after city took the lead, arsenal equalised with a penalty from bukayo saka, before goals from jack grealish and top scorer erling haaland ensured victory, putting pressure on arsenal's title hopes. the american film star and model raquel welch, who became an international sex symbol in the 1960s, has died. she was 82. as david sillito reports, she was often credited with breaking the mould for modern—day action heroines in hollywood films. raquel welch did not expect anyone to remember what she thought was just a "silly dinosaur movie". but one million years bc, with its giant malevolent turtles, poor grasp of evolution, and prehistoric bikinis,

turned raquel welch into a star of teenage bedrooms across the world. "in one fell swoop, everything about the real me was," she said, "swept away." # you make me feel so young...# it was pretty clear how she was being marketed. coffee ? in bedazzled, she was given the role of lilian lust. strong, black and sweet. in public, she played the role. two mountainous spoons full! but she said she had little control over her career. # now, listen here, boy! # i used to be a square...# she was bornjo raquel tejada, the daughter of a bolivian engineer, and her heart really lay in song and dance — light—hearted, old—school glamour. a lot of people want to be great artists. i don't know that i'm capable of being that, but i hope i entertain a few people, you know? the producer behind many of her projects

was the man she married in 1967 — film producer patrick curtis. it would be fair to say she was better known than many of her films. never again will i let you go into such terrible danger. but she did win a golden globe for the three musketeers. # i can rub and scrub this house # till it's shining just like a dime... # and on stage and television, she did get a chance to show off her song and dance skills. # you got the shake and i got the shimmy... # raquel welch had set out wanting to be ginger rogers and ended up being defined by a doe—skin bikini. the hollywood star raquel welch, who's died aged 82. time for a look at the weather, here's tomasz schafernaker. good evening. the weather in the last few days has been settled, high pressure in charge, but that is changing, a lot of cloud heading our

way, but it is staying mild. tomorrow, despite cloud and rain, around the mid—teens across southern parts of the uk. the rainy drizzly start will give way to something drier come the afternoon, but a lot of cloud in the atlantic, and many weather systems heading in our direction, and it could turn quite stormy across northern britain towards the end of the week. the forecast for the morning, outbreaks of rain across england and wales, while extending into the lowlands, but north of that it is chilly, a touch of frost possible. hill fog first thing tomorrow, drizzle fading, sunshine developing, orat least a few sunny spells across central england, ia or 15 degrees, for most of us closer to ii or 12, so overall quite mild. nasty low pressure whistling across the uk on friday morning and into the

afternoon, severe gales are likely. still uncertain where they was twins will be, but northern scotland gusts in excess of 70 mph, very windy in the lowlands, but in newcastle gusts of up to 75 mph, so very blustery. that will cause problems across northern britain. in the south breezy, but we are not expecting gales. on the weekend will be a mixed bag, some rain around, not particularly heavy, but chances are a bit of sunshine will come out, the average this time of year is age, we are into double figures. back to huw in edinburgh. as soon as nicola sturgeon announced her departure, the names of potential successors were already circulating. but no—one has yet declared an intention to run, and nicola sturgeon certainly refused to name a favoured

successor today. but there are several potential candidates. kate forbes, the scottish finance secretary. she's just 32, and she's enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks. she is currently on maternity leave. angus robertson was for ten years the westminster leader of the snp. he's now a member of nicola sturgeon's cabinet. john swinney, a former party leader, now deputy first minister, is the most experienced snp figure after nicola sturgeon. and humza yousaf, who's 37, is the health secretary and a prominent member of the newer generation of snp leaders. our scotland editor, james cook, joins us again. whoever succeeds will have a hard act to follow.

well,