good morning. welcome to bev turner today on tv and radio, we're expecting the very first police press conference regarding nicola polis disappearance during the show, but with some relatively good news, inflation has slowed for a

third month in a row. so how can we aren't feeling it at the tills yet.7 jeremy we aren't feeling it at the tills yet? jeremy hunt has said that the fight against inflation is far from over. does it feel like on your let me like he's on your side? let me know. we've got a gb news exclusive report on the people smugglers. attempts dodge smugglers. new attempts to dodge french plus, french police patrols. plus, mike tonia buxton to mike parry and tonia buxton to go papers go through the papers and discuss amongst other things, chinese 100% chinese surveillance that i 100% effective contrast active effective male contrast active pill. would you trust that ulta.com after your latest news with bethany . beth thank you. with bethany. beth thank you. good morning. it's 10:01. i'm bethany good morning. it's10:01. i'm bethany elsey with your top stories from the gb newsroom. the labour leader has apologised on behalf of the party for its handung on behalf of the party for its handling of anti—semitism complaints under his predecessor , jeremy corbyn, sir keir starmer also confirmed mr. corbyn will not stand for labour at the next general election. it comes as the equality and human rights commission announced it will end its monitoring of the

party two years after a report into antisemitism complaints. the watchdog demanded labour make changes after finding it was responsive for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination to all those who were hurt. for all those who were let down. to all those who were let down. to all those who were let down. to all those driven out of our party. who no longer felt it was their home. who suffered the most appalling abuse. today on behalf of the entire labour party, i say sorry . what you've party, i say sorry. what you've been through could never be undone. apologies alone cannot make it right. undone. apologies alone cannot make it right . the rate of uk make it right. the rate of uk inflation has fallen for the third month in a row but remains in double digits. data from the office for national statistics shows the consumer price index fell to 10.1% in january, down from 10.5% in december. the drop was largely due to the price of fuel and transport slowing.

chancellor leader jeremy hunt says the fight to reduce inflation is far from over. a boy and a girl, both aged 15, have been charged with the murder of a 16 year old girl. he was stabbed to death in cheshire. brianna gi from warrington was found serious sleep injured on a pavement near a park on saturday afternoon . a park on saturday afternoon. she died a short time later. cheshire police says their explorer with 17, he was transgender , was the victim of transgender, was the victim of a hate crime . candlelight vigils hate crime. candlelight vigils have been held in bristol and in liverpool. in her memory . a 19 liverpool. in her memory. a 19 month old girl has six been successful treated for a fatal genetic disease with the world's most expensive drug . teddy shaw most expensive drug. teddy shaw from northumberland suffers from a rare inherited disease called emil de , which causes serious emil de, which causes serious damage to the nervous system and organs . dramatically cutting organs. dramatically cutting life expectancy. she is the first person in the uk to be

given the treatment which has a list price of £28 million. but her three year old sister, who also has the condition, is to advanced to benefit from the treatment. school unions are warning the education sector must take must make teachers sorry, must make teachers a concrete pay offer to prevent further strikes going ahead in england. gillian keegan will meet union leaders today in a bid to resolve the pay dispute. the national education union is planning action in england as well as in wales. this month and next year. more than 41,000 people are known to have died in earthquakes, which struck southern turkey and northern syria last week. rescue workers are continuing to find survivors as last night. a 77 year old woman was pulled from the rubble alive after being trapped. for more than eight days. syria's president says he'll open two more border crossings so emergency aid can reach

opposition controlled areas . the opposition controlled areas. the defence secretary says the uk should rethink how much it's willing to spend on defence amid the increasing threat from russia. speaking ahead of a meeting with his nato counterparts in brussels, ben wallace also said western allies could help ukraine more quickly by supporting their position on the ground rather than focusing on supplying jets. it's after ukraine's president vladimir zelenskyy toured london, paris and brussels in an effort to secure fighter planes for his country . the white house now country. the white house now thinks now says it doesn't think three high altitude objects that were shot down by the military at the weekend are linked to china. one object was downed over alaska and another over canada's yukon territory, and a third was shot down over lake huron in michigan. us intelligence believes the unidentified objects could be commercial and that they're likely benign. it's after concerns they could be linked to

a suspected chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the coast of south carolina. 11 days ago and the launch of one rocket failed to reach orbit in january because of a fuel filter dislodged, causing an engine to overheat. virgin orbit's chief executive dan hart says the company will proceed cautiously towards the launch of its next rocket . the satellite mission rocket. the satellite mission was the first of its kind from the uk and some breaking news we're just hearing . scotland's we're just hearing. scotland's first minister nicholas sturgeon is to hold an urgent press conference at 11:00. we'll bring you the latest as we get it. you're up to date on tv , online you're up to date on tv, online and dab, plus radio . this is gb and dab, plus radio. this is gb news. now, though, it's back to beth .

beth. welcome to bev turner today. this is live tv and the latest news is that nicholas sturgeon is expected to resign. a scottish first minister after eight years in charge . the eight years in charge. the scottish national party leader is expected to hold a news conference at 11:00 this morning in just under an hour. and we will, of course, bring you that live tom harwood joins me now . live tom harwood joins me now. good morning, tom. you came off air. this hadn't happened that was, what, 7 minutes ago? this has come out of the blue somewhat or somewhat out of the blue. and i've just been asking around some sources north of the border to see exactly what's going on here, because there are a couple of things that are in the play , in the mix. there was the play, in the mix. there was one poll last week that showed support for independence for partition of the united kingdom has crashed down to just below 40, much, much lower than it was

dunng 40, much, much lower than it was during the peak during those scottish lockdowns that we saw support really , really rise. so support really, really rise. so clearly support for nicola sturgeon's cause has been dimming . but also there are many dimming. but also there are many questions within the snp which has always traditionally been an incredibly united party presenter , a very united front, presenter, a very united front, almost to the state of a very unusual lack of internal dissent. we've started to see some more internal dissent sort of bubbling up. nicholas sturgeon, of course, has been first minister since 2014, quite a long time at the helm . and a long time at the helm. and there are some voices within her party who have been sort of gently saying that potentially it's gently saying that potentially wsfime gently saying that potentially it's time to move on. and thirdly, there is this question that has been bubbling up in the last week or so of this ongoing questions around a missing £600,000 that the snp has raised since 2017 to fight an

independence referendum . and yet independence referendum. and yet that independence referendum. and yet tha t £600,000 seems to have gone that £600,000 seems to have gone missing from the snp's accounts . so there are many, many questions around that and a probe that has begun. do we know the new office that is crowdfunded through multiple donations that explicitly for the cause of an independence referendum but doesn't seem to have ended up in that pot? and we're not sure where it's gone or what it's been spent on. so there are questions around that that could also be factoring into are into this. ultimately, there are those big, big factors playing into what is , to some people, a into what is, to some people, a very welcome announcement, into what is, to some people, a very welcome announcement , to very welcome announcement, to others, a very shocking announcement . no. one at the announcement. no. one at the beginning of today was necessarily expecting this absolute . there was an article absolute. there was an article in a spectator , i think, only in a spectator, i think, only from about 5 hours ago saying that she was living on borrowed time in cyprus. now, of that she was living on borrowed time in cyprus . now, of course, time in cyprus. now, of course, she's been embroiled in this

genden she's been embroiled in this gender, self debt colouration, male syndrome. it really came down to this one case, which really caught the public's imagination of i'll bryson. this is the transgender double rapist. and the question was whether, well, when they should go into a female prison, which kind of put nicholas sturgeon in the middle of this kind of moral and political quagmire with the gender recognition reform bill, which, of course rishi sunak and the uk parliament block, they said it would damage women's rights under the uk equality act. do you think it will be that this is what has pushed her over the edge? i think on down simply this is a factor in what's going on nicholas sturgeon looked flustered in an interview a couple of weeks ago around this question is this particular individual a rapist who only after being charged , who only after being charged, suddenly decided that they might be transgender? nicholas sturgeon in the way that she responded to that has come under

a lot of criticism . normally, a lot of criticism. normally, she's a very adept media performer, but under questioning over this issue, she seemed to get rattled. she seemed to get flustered . she seemed like the flustered. she seemed like the shine had come off. now it's important that we emphasise the situation of this particular prisoner is a separate question from the self i.d. legislation that was going through the scottish parliament, because that's not so much to do with prisons, but the question of this individual, this rapist, was sort of happening at the same time and all got tied up really in the same narrative. and if i if i've understood this correctly, i think the gender self—declaration would have allowed either bryson to have identified quite quickly as a woman by law, and therefore could have gone into a women's prison. so he doesn't even though the even though the crime was committed when they were. adam graham that that name. so actually as the law stands since 2004 trans gender people do not

need a grc to a gender recognition significant certificate to go into another prison. the glc is and isn't the sort of passport to go from one prison to the other. and actually, as things were standing, we must remember there isn't grc reform in scotland that was blocked by westminster . and yet still this individual bill was expected and was being planned to go into a women's prison. so that was the situation before debate around self i.d, but yet but yet clearly was supposed to happen was a system of individual assessments and the big political criticism here is that the assessment was not going well . many people the assessment was not going well. many people think the assessment was not going well . many people think that well. many people think that this individual is not transgender, is fake . it has transgender, is fake. it has only suddenly decided to do this after being charged with violent crime . they they would, of crime. they they would, of course, say the opposite. i guess scots agreed with with the uk government about 2 to 1. i

think in order to not push this element, the uk government to block it . what details you think block it. what details you think we will get from her. so if you're just joining us now, nicholas sturgeon, we believe is going to make a statement at 11:00 to announce her resignation , knowing resignation, knowing her character, tom, how do you think she will announce her departure? she's the kind of character that would blame other people, will she go so far as to blame rishi sunak? i think that we'll see a very defensive statement from nicholas sturgeon she someone excuse that would actually excuse me that would actually be. but you have been on half an hour before they thank you very much. so you know she's no known vanessa's sara lee. she comes out swinging , doesn't she? she out swinging, doesn't she? she certainly does. i mean, i've run into on a number of occasions i chased her through cop26, just in just over sort of 14 months ago , and she was not really ago, and she was not really happy to answer many questions from me at that time. but similarly, she's known to have

quite a tight media operate around her, a very close knit circle of advisers is there's been a lot of criticism that the way in which the snp and its executive is run is by her and her husband. he's the chief executive of the snp and a very tight group of people . we saw of tight group of people. we saw of course when nicholas sturgeon was being accused of wrongdoing by alex salmond and that sort of inquiry that went on within holyrood just over a year ago, we saw how very many of nicola sturgeon's closest advisers just sort of acted to create this sort of acted to create this sort of acted to create this sort of protective ring around her. and i think to some extent we're going to see a lot of that same defensiveness today from nicholas sturgeon. she pretty much said that she was going to turn the 2024 general election into a de facto referendum, didn't she, on independence? will rishi sunak this morning be breathing a sigh of relief that

she's no longer the first minister? i guess it depends who's waiting in the wings. well, interestingly, i spoke to a number of conservative members of the scottish parliament after that announcement from nicholas sturgeon, were breathing sturgeon, who were breathing a sigh of relief. they believed that actually the idea that the snp would brand a general election as a de facto referendum, them would help them against the party's wider prospects . and so conservative prospects. and so conservative msp , conservative members of msp, conservative members of parliament in scotland who sit in more marginal seats, thought that they were safer because they'd be able to say , look, they'd be able to say, look, you've got to back me if you're a unionist, no matter what's going on with the party and how it's run in westminster now, i think whoever takes the think that whoever takes the lead of the snp after this, because of course the conversation will very quickly turn who are the potential turn to who are the potential people who are going to stand for this position, what's their vision going to be in terms of leading the snp ? it's very leading the snp? it's very unlikely there's someone unlikely that there's someone who is less adamantly in favour

of independence. if anything , we of independence. if anything, we might well see a hardening of the snp's stance potentially some people from the wing of the party that has been pushing for an illegal referendum, they might be a large voice in the conversation that is about to happen within that party and clearly there will be people standing for the leadership who are trying to really make a case for a very radical membership. so we might well see a shift in the way that this party is run and in its tactics away from. if you can describe nicholas sturgeon in any way as moderate. but we might see an even greater sense of radicalism from a new leader. she's obviously such a powerful figure. she's such an identifiable figure in the british media who is waiting in the wings, do you think who we might know off? we might reckon otherwise we might know the names, who might be taking her place, do you think? who would be in the running for that role? there are some really big names,

of who have of course, some who have represented snp in represented the snp in westminster have returned up westminster and have returned up to in the last to hollyrood in the last elections. there are also some people who have been perceived to be closer to nicholas sturgeon and in some who have perceived to have been perceived to be further away from nicholas sturgeon. so a lot of names in the mix , some of the big ones the mix, some of the big ones that we might well be thinking of are the new finance minister who was installed by sturgeon just a couple of years ago. she might be very well a name that wants to throw her hat in the ring . but also there is the ring. but also there is the constitution, minister, within the snp scottish government as well. there are some people who would be seen to be more on the sturgeon side of things and other people who would be seen to on the other side of to be on the other side of things. might well sort things. we might well see sort of token from those of a token campaign from those around joanna cherry around the. joanna cherry faction the party who are faction within the party who are much on the gender critical much more on the gender critical side of things. there were a small minority of snp who voted against that gender reform bill

in scotland as well. maybe they will make themselves known with a candidate too. okay. all right. thank you, tom. according to the latest breaking headlines, the scottish national party leader is expected to make an announcement at about 11:00 this morning in edinburgh. an announcement at about 11:00 this morning in edinburgh . the this morning in edinburgh. the first minister, nicholas sturgeon expected to resign at 11. stay with me right here on gb news for continued reaction to this breaking news. gb news for continued reaction to this breaking news . see gb news for continued reaction to this breaking news. see you in a minute .

welcome back to bev turner. stay on gb news. it is 10:20 am. my panel are here to discuss, of course, the biggest breaking news story this morning. a political commentator, tonia buxton and broadcaster, journalist mike parry . thank you journalist mike parry. thank you so much, both of you. well we

came this morning, we had came on our this morning, we had a program planned and now a whole program planned and now we whistle dancing we set up a whistle dancing again. buxton the demise again. tonia buxton the demise of sturgeon we're of nicholas sturgeon we're expecting her resignation speech at you're just joining at 11:00. if you're just joining us, thoughts ? can a dance? us, thoughts? can i do a dance? you bring up you i do a you bring up you can i do a little dance? oh, she's gone. she's now, in my she's one of us now, in my opinion , in the woman was opinion, in the woman was unstable and everything that she did was to kind of push her political career further . she political career further. she did not think about scottish people. she did not think about scottish women . she was a scottish women. she was a complete lockdown. covid my woman. and she's done so much damage to scotland that i'm so glad she's finally gone . now we glad she's finally gone. now we have to just be clear that that's a very personal opinion , that's a very personal opinion, in my opinion. you did as you did, and i think there's quite a lot there. i would agree with you. there's very little very few times it nicholas sturgeon would say anything that i would agree with. but having said that, mike, she is a very shrewd political operator and

strategist, a rottweiler who gets a goal in her sights and makes things happen. well, look , tony just expressed a very strong opinion about nicholas sturgeon. i'll give you a few facts to back up. what tony has said. so the most recent poll, 42% of people only supporting her. but you know why? what about the policy she's brought in? you are absolutely right as well, bev. her single ambition in life was to be the woman who go down in history that brought independence to scotland. i've been for years an been saying for years an independent scotland cannot possibly support itself fiscally. it doesn't have the sort of industries that can support a country on its own. now just a few of the things they've got shortages in some shops in scotland and they're on the islands because she didn't get round to building the ferries that she was supposed to build. they all got rotten and wrecked and there's way wrecked and there's no way people get glasgow people can get around glasgow council only week announced council only last week announced we're going have to lay off we're going to have to lay off 800 teachers because of the mismanaged months of the snp and

that mighty city. what did she do? turn around said i'm funding it, you'll more teachers. it, you'll hire more teachers. okay, giving them many okay, give giving them many more to exactly, to money do. exactly, exactly, exactly what i'm saying. i mean it's a scotland's a basket case. if you look at the education policy , they've gone down policy, they've gone down massively over the last ten years. if you look at the drug problem in the major cities, edinburgh and glasgow . that's edinburgh and glasgow. that's the big that's the big one. probably has not addressed. it's probably the worst in europe. can you believe that? they were even considering hammering on one of their most successful industries , which scotch industries, which is scotch whisky as exported it all around the world. but they're having a debate about whether to ban alcohol advertising in scotland. i mean, what of a basket i mean, what kind of a basket case become? well she she case that become? well she she she wanted to rush through this deposit didn't deposit return scheme, didn't she, for use she, as well for single use containers. yeah. which you know, it might be a laudable aim, but it was considered to be aim, but it was considered to be a of a disaster before it a bit of a disaster before it even she's obviously even begun. she's obviously attempted petrol and attempted to ban petrol and diesel and you might diesel cars again, and you might agree poorly executed.

agree with that poorly executed. i to push that 2030 i did have to push that 2030 target date for the ban on fossil fuel vehicles. now, that's that's been ripped out. the proposal to outlaw gas central heating boilers in newbuild homes as early as 2025. yeah, she was wanting to do that. that's gone as well. it might be easy, tanya, to think that this is all about the transgender issue that she's been currently and mired with it. but actually problems go it. but actually the problems go back lot longer than they back a lot longer than they really go back a lot longer. really do. go back a lot longer. and ruling and ultimately, if you're ruling someone , you've been given the someone, you've been given the vote. and i think the problem is, that got all the is, is that she got all the labour as well. and labour votes as well. and i don't think that was don't think that she was necessary, only she's not for the class person. no, to the working class person. no, to me, that's going me, the worse thing that's going on scotland is the drug on in scotland is the drug problem, especially with the young there. she's young people there. and she's just any time or just not devoted any time or resources resources resources or resources and she just brushes the carpet just brushes it under the carpet and what's killing and that's what's killing young people now. it's killing them now she's done nothing now. and she's done nothing about yeah mean, about that. yeah i mean, i really am trying very hard to give both sides the argument give both sides of the argument and think of one thing and try to think of one thing that done that was that she's done that was

actually and i'm actually good. and i'm struggling with it. i'm struggling with it. i'm struggling to come up. but also politically, was politically, you say she was very all that. the very shrewd and all that. the shrewd was she always blamed shrewd bit was she always blamed it westminster , tory, it on westminster, tory, austerity . she knew full well austerity. she knew full well that no matter how mad her policies became and how bankrupt she made the country , at the end she made the country, at the end of the day, the taxpayers from the south—east of england were going to have to pay all the country out. yeah, otherwise the union in more trouble. union was in even more trouble. if a rebellious country if you had a rebellious country in scotland because her in scotland because of her failed everything in scotland because of her failedtouched everything in scotland because of her failedtouched haszrything in scotland because of her failedtouched has gone1g she's touched has gone completely wrong. i might sound that on, you know, bitterly attacking a woman, but i'm a unionist and i want the union to stay together. and spent the stay together. and she spent the last couple of decades of her life trying to prise it apart. and forgive for her and i can't forgive for her that. and also the bullet formula's designed, isn't it, to give scottish a very good give scottish people a very good dealin give scottish people a very good deal in relation to the english taxpayer? and she still couldn't make it work. yeah, mean, you make it work. yeah, i mean, you completely right. she has the opposite of the midas touch. yes, does. little she does yes, she does. little she does opposite to doing that. but the

main about our leaders at main thing about our leaders at the moment is they seem to be just politically driven like you said, to be the woman said, she wants to be the woman that made scotland independent, irrelevant did to the irrelevant of what it did to the scottish people. and most scottish people. and the most important thing , yeah, think important thing, yeah, i think that they are all politicians. all politicians need to go through some kind of psychological analysis to make sure that what they're doing is for good the people, for the good of the people, because doesn't seem to because it doesn't seem to be that anymore. we just that way anymore. we just doesn't yeah, doesn't feel that way. yeah, we've potential issue we've got this potential issue about some missing money. i it's breaking news this tom mentioned it there that the might of the £600,000 that has gone missing is this related to her husband's role in the party because that's another issue as well. it's a slightly different issue. yeah, i think he is her nicholas sturgeon husband is facing a question of some peace finances. the police have stepped up their investigations , potential investigations, potential fundraising for that. right. that's i believe , about fundraising for that. right. that's i believe, abou t £60,000 that's i believe, about £60,000 that's gone missing. yeah we don't know what this is it. this

is a very whenever money gets mentioned in political circles, to be honest, i just thought it just goes over my head because it's a constant what i look for in a politician is will you employing policies to make employing these policies to make a better life for the people you represent, or will you employing these policies? so that one is be statue of in the town be a statue of you in the town square in glasgow saying you became the woman who gave us independent and undoubtedly with , i mean, private. i called her we burn. he didn't die. and i'm not calling a wee bernie. but that's an indication from a satirical magazine of how she was viewed , you know, was viewed, you know, internationally, really , we internationally, really, we bernie, you know, coming around in a high heels and issuing policy statements , her policy policy statements, her policy statement said without ever thinking being funded thinking about them being funded properly consequently, scott properly and consequently, scott learned a really great contract . magnificent country has gone down the tubes. according to a source apparently close to the first minister, in quotes, she's had enough. this is what they're saying. she's just had enough . saying. she's just had enough. he's choosing to resign now, i

guess with in order that maybe to put somebody else in charge of her party in the run up to the election if she. no, she's sufficiently unpopular in that regard. it might be that she's falling on her face the sake of the party. tanya, she sounds just like jacinda. knows just like jacinda. he knows carla, know she carla, which i know she parallels these kind of and it upsets me that it's women, because i always think of women as being far more sensible. no offence than men. and just the more dress bearing, you know, genden more dress bearing, you know, gender. but i've been there for nearly ten years. i guess. but yes, but she's she's now the reason that she's going is because she knows that she's become unpopular become so dreadfully unpopular that she make it again. so that she won't make it again. so she's had enough of that. that's not the case. and of course, she won't achieve devalue option because unpopular she because the more unpopular she becomes unpopular. her becomes more unpopular. her policies one very policies become one very laudable policy. i recall from about a year ago she wanted to get about a year ago she wanted to ge t £800 about a year ago she wanted to get £800 million of funding for social care, you know, to get rid of the bed blockers . i think rid of the bed blockers. i think she scrapped that in favour of

something else that came onto the, you know, radar all that needed a big blocking of funds . needed a big blocking of funds. you know, she did do an interview not long ago where she said she wasn't in any rush to resign. that was only a matter of weeks ago, which very much raises question, has raises the question, what has happened? going to a happened? are we going to get a big revelation you're just big revelation if you're just joining nicholas sturgeon joining us? nicholas sturgeon is that a resignation that due to make a resignation speech half an speech in just over half an houn speech in just over half an hour, 11:00. so stay with hour, about 11:00. so stay with us she's going to be in us here. she's going to be in edinburgh, we will edinburgh, apparently, we will take that live of course. and do you think, tonya, that this transgender issue because i know we've covered this a lot on the show and gender recognition show and her gender recognition reform was the first time reform act was the first time when she was responding to those questions she as as questions where she looked as as tom very flustered. tom said before, very flustered. she how answer she didn't know how to answer that. can't help but think that. you can't help but think she was starting to regret . yes. she was starting to regret. yes. is looking into that particular moral. she again , she was doing moral. she again, she was doing something she thought was something that she thought was popular. kind of this popular. so it's kind of this kind it's woke agenda, kind of so it's a woke agenda, isn't it? whether that isn't it? whether we like that word not, a woke agenda. word or not, it's a woke agenda. it make any sense . it it doesn't make any sense. it doesn't any sense to put

doesn't make any sense to put convicted rapists with all their tackle into a female prison. i mean, and there was no no way she could get out of that. it doesn't make a lot of the things, you know. how can you a lot of these kids that are going through this at the moment are actually suffering with psychological and psychological problems and they're any the they're not getting any of the help they because they can help they want because they can just someone now just walk in. someone say, now i'm now i'm a girl, and i'm a boy now i'm a girl, and that's it. so it's so problematic and it was so, so wrong. like you she wrong. and like you said, she sat in of that interview sat in front of that interview and she just like she and she just looked like she didn't what she was talking didn't know what she was talking about. it clearly about. and it clearly hasn't resonated that resonated with the people that it with the public. like it should with the public. like we, i think there are a lot of pubuc we, i think there are a lot of public we still have a lot of questions that. oh, she was questions on that. oh, she was failing to them failing to answer them satisfactorily. scotti sh satisfactorily. the scottish people renowned their people are renowned for their common they had common sense. for years they had a better education system than we england they we had in england because they retain schools. and, you retain grammar schools. and, you know, and people know, gordon brown and people like have benefit of like that have the benefit of fantastic education part fantastic education in that part of narrowly of the world. but she narrowly lost didn't she, in lost a majority, didn't she, in the set of elections in the last set of elections in scotland, so she couldn't

actually anything through actually get anything through on the was the the snp ticket that was the start of the edinburgh. the interview about interview you're talking about was week or ten was it just last week or ten days the chap from itv, the days ago? the chap from itv, the political right in political ads are right in scotland. never seen such. scotland. i've never seen such. i've never seen a politician quiver collapse in 5 minutes quiver and collapse in 5 minutes on a policy like that . but she on a policy like that. but she knows now she's not untouchable. for the first five years, she was around, she thought she was completely untouchable . yeah, completely untouchable. yeah, but the problem that the but that's the problem that the they feel they're untouchable and not accountable. exactly. all our politicians should be accountable to the people that vote them in. yeah, well shall not identifying being not be identifying as being unemployed an unemployed from about half an hours unemployed from about half an hour's time. we will be bringing you this live. she's due to speak in edinburgh at 11:00. so please do stay here with us on gb news. we will take that speech, continue coverage of nicola sturgeon's resignation and also at 1130 this morning we'll be live at the press conference as police give their first press conference an update on the missing mother , nicola

on the missing mother, nicola pulley. find out what else we're going to talk about after your morning news. going to talk about after your morning news . five. thank going to talk about after your morning news. five. thank you. good morning. it's just after half past ten. i'm bethany elsey with your top stories from the gb news room. and as you've been heanng gb news room. and as you've been hearing some breaking news this morning, nicholas sturgeon is expected to resign as first minister of scotland after eight years in power. an urgent press conference will be held from her residence at beach house in edinburgh at 11:00. and of course , we'll bring that to you course, we'll bring that to you live here on gb news. further details about if she will remain in the role until a successor is appointed is for now a known. but of course, we'll bring you more on this story as it happens . the labour leader has apologised on behalf of the party for its handling of anti—semitism complaints under his predecessor , sir jeremy

his predecessor, sir jeremy corbyn. sir keir starmer also confirmed mr. corbyn will not stand for labour at the next general action. it comes as the equality and human rights commission announced it will end its monitoring of the party two years after a report into antisemitism complaints , the antisemitism complaints, the watchdog demanded labour make changes after finding it response to both unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination known to all those who were hurt , to all those who were let down. to all those driven out of our party who no longer felt it was their home, who suffered the most appalling abuse . today, on most appalling abuse. today, on behalf of the entire labour party , i say sorry what you've party, i say sorry what you've been through could never be undone. been through could never be undone . apologies alone cannot undone. apologies alone cannot make it right. undone. apologies alone cannot make it right . the right if uk make it right. the right if uk inflation has fallen for the third month in a row but remains in double digits. data from the office for national statistics

shows the consumer price index fell to 10.1% in january, down from 10.5% in december. the drop was largely due to the price of fuel and transport slowing . fuel and transport slowing. chancellor jeremy fuel and transport slowing. chancellorjeremy hunt says the chancellor jeremy hunt says the fight to reduce inflation is far from over . fight to reduce inflation is far from over. and a boy and a girl, both aged 15, have been charged with the murder of a 16 year old girl. he was stabbed to death in cheshire . brianna jai from cheshire. brianna jai from warrington was found seriously injured , a pavement near a park injured, a pavement near a park on saturday afternoon. she died a short time later. cheshire police says they are exploring whether the teen who was transgender was a victim of a hate crime . you're up to date on hate crime. you're up to date on tv , online and dab, plus radio . tv, online and dab, plus radio. this is gb news. bev will be back you in just a moment.

good morning. it's 1030. good morning. it's1030. 660 is bev turner today on gp. if you're just joining us, scotland's first leader nicholas sturgeon is expected to resign after eight years in charge . the after eight years in charge. the snp leader, the first minister, is expected to hold a news conference at 11:00 this morning. and we will of course bnng morning. and we will of course bring you that live . i'm joined bring you that live. i'm joined now by john curtice, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde. good morning, john. are you with us? going to win ? are you with us? going to win? john, thank you for joining are you with us? going to win? john, thank you forjoining us john, thank you for joining us this morning. bit john, thank you for joining us this morning . bit late notice this morning. bit late notice now . where was nicholas sturgeon now. where was nicholas sturgeon in the polls? you are political expert and also polling expert. where was she until this morning? how was she doing ? morning? how was she doing? well, it depends on how you look at it. i mean, the truth is that nicholas sturgeon remains the most popular of the party leaders in scotland by far. her

party is still running at around 44, 45% in the opinion polls for the westminster election, which is roughly what it achieved in 2019. until extent, at least one might wonder why she would want to resile . however her personal to resile. however her personal popularity is now lower than it was . it frankly received quite a was. it frankly received quite a substantial boost during the covid pandemic, where she was thought to have let the difficult all that duck difficult all that duck difficult two years very well and more effectively than boris johnson . but that has been johnson. but that has been gradual in decline and she's beenin gradual in decline and she's been in a position now kind of roughly half the country thinks she's doing okay , but the other she's doing okay, but the other half don't. but as compared with recent standards and not so good, but i suspect in the but in the end that the reasons for his resignation weren't lie so much in her personal popularity or whatever. but the fact that was becoming clear that she was

struggling to contain you to maintain strict control over the strategic direction of her party. on the issue of independence. now, of course, when the supreme court said in november that the scottish parliament could not hold an independence referendum on its own volition , that nicholas own volition, that nicholas sturgeon was forced to say what she was going to pursue. so tom baird, now plan b was the idea of holding regarding the next uk general election as a de facto referendum . other words, if over referendum. other words, if over half of scots got a right to vote for the snp, she would regard that as a mandate to negotiate for independence . negotiate for independence. well, the trouble is quite a few of her mps in particular were none too happy. this idea they were concerned about the possible impact on their ability at the next election. more broadly , there was concern as to broadly, there was concern as to whether or not actually this was a realist way of pursuing the independence cause and that perhaps actually what the snp need to do rather more was to

focus on trying to persuade more people in scotland of the merits of independence and the efficacy seems to be somewhat less than half. so there is a party conference today. so there was a party conference due to take place next month and there were a number of amendments down suggests that maybe the party should in a different should go in a different direction now that maybe in direction and now that maybe in the real pressure point the end the real pressure point for nicholas sturgeon rather than, for example, some of disputes over the gender recognition bill, or indeed, of course, certainly perhaps the fact that after eight years she felt she's given it a good shot and maybe it's time to move on and maybe it's time to move on and john, what will happen now if in 20 minutes time, as we're expecting, she announced her resignation , what will be the resignation, what will be the next steps ? well, if she were to next steps? well, if she were to resign as first minister today , resign as first minister today, a successor will have to be appointed within 28 days or. a successor will have to be appointed within 28 days or . the appointed within 28 days or. the scottish parliament is ultimate quickly dissolved. so if she were to do that, there will be a

very tight pressure on her party to come to a decision soon. it's therefore, i think likely that she will announce that she intends to resign once her party has come up with a successor as leader . but has come up with a successor as leader. but she backs has come up with a successor as leader . but she backs the has come up with a successor as leader. but she backs the same way as boris johnson did back at the beginning july. but that will therefore mean that there is an internal election inside the snp. i doubt there be a coronation . there isn't an coronation. there isn't an obvious successor , but i think obvious successor, but i think what we can expect during that election as a debate about how the snp should be trying to pursue its strategic goal of independence and to that extent at least the snp is going to spend a lot of time talking to itself in the next few weeks rather than to the wider public. and i think probably the opposition parties will regard that as good news for them. and the labour party in particular, of course, who has his conference in scotland this weekend , we're hoping that weekend, we're hoping that perhaps persuade rather perhaps they can persuade rather more than they have done more voters than they have done so currently supporting

so who are currently supporting the snp that perhaps they should labour instead . so you would labour instead. so you would expect , sir john, that she would expect, sir john, that she would probably still be leader , de probably still be leader, de facto leader at the party conference next month. well think i think it must now be a question mark as to whether or not that conference goes ahead. right. is my immediate to you, but we will have to say , i mean, but we will have to say, i mean, of course, if she were to resign straight away today as first minister, then frankly , i new minister, then frankly, i new person would have to be in place by the time of that conference anyway . can you see any anyway. can you see any situation under which she would resign within today? if there is anything that is a little more scurrilous in? the background we've got, tom hall was going to be back in the studio in just a moment to let us whether moment to let us know whether there perhaps truth to there is any perhaps truth to these about missing these rumours about missing party that party funds is that the circumstances under which she might resign today ? well there might resign today? well there are there have been stories about a the way in which funds

that were meant to be used in order to promote the cause of independence got used in order to the snp cause. although it's telling that money's been repaid, they are also stories about the fact that her husband , peter murrell, who's the general secretary of snp, general secretary of the snp, leant money to the party, something about which ms. sturgeon , she did not know sturgeon, she did not know anything and was entirely her husband's personal decision. now and never to play in politics when there appears be stories about money of doubtful origin or doubtful expenditure, there's often get pursued by journalists. they have been pursued. they have not always been resolved satisfactorily and in the eyes of some. but whether or not there is anything to be seen beyond perhaps miscue , seen beyond perhaps miscue, communication and perhaps some doubtful loan loaning of money for one purpose for another , i for one purpose for another, i think, frankly, we don't know . think, frankly, we don't know. i'm looking on twitter at the moment to see whether, for instance , the leader of the instance, the leader of the scottish conservatives, douglas ross msp, has made a statement

yet he hasn't . but would this yet he hasn't. but would this come as good news to somebody like douglas ross ? yes oh, look, like douglas ross? yes oh, look, the honest truth is that nicholas sturgeon is by far and away the most effective politician that the snp have at the moment. there isn't an obvious successor . there isn't obvious successor. there isn't anybody has clear popularity with the electorate. they have some solid performers. john swinney is a who is the deputy first minister, is a solid, full man, but he's already tried being leader of the snp and wasn't very successful . wasn't very successful. successful. there's been a lot of discussion that kate forbes , of discussion that kate forbes, the finance secretary, will be the finance secretary, will be the person who would ultimately succeed nicholas sturgeon. but she still no maternity leave. and this doesn't exactly come at the ideal time personally for her. and she's certainly got to demonstrate that she's got an ability to talk to the wider pubuc ability to talk to the wider public as opposed to impress holyrood insiders . and beyond holyrood insiders. and beyond that, frankly it's not entirely

clear. i think many people would say that the group of people who are currently inside the scottish cabinet, you know, person to person, don't contain the same degree of calibre that alex salmond had in his cabinet before 2014. that was a group of unusually talented people that i don't think are necessarily be said about the current snp frontbench . you're going to be frontbench. you're going to be a man in demand today, sirjohn. that's your mobile phone ringing in the background . just one last in the background. just one last question then . how will she be question then. how will she be remembered , nicholas sturgeon, remembered, nicholas sturgeon, as the longer serving leader of the snp, the longest serving first minister of scotland. sorry as well, since she she hit that time, i think it may 22. how will she be remembered . i how will she be remembered. i think there'll be two ways in which she'll be remembered positively overall by her, by her party and by the country. by the party for the fact that she turns her party and let her party to becoming a significant

presence . westminster for the presence. westminster for the first time in its history and become third biggest party become the third biggest party in that was the in westminster that was the product general product of the 2015 general election . so far as the country election. so far as the country is, as a motorist concerned , i is, as a motorist concerned, i think she was widely respect for the leadership that she provided. the country during the covid pandemic , and she emerged covid pandemic, and she emerged out of that much more effective than boris johnson. the dance , than boris johnson. the dance, at least for our party, is that it's not entirely clear that the party is any in delivering independence now than it was when nicholas sturgeon first became first minister in the autumn of 2014. absolutely thank you so much, sirjohn curtis there, professor of politics at there, professor of politics at the university of strathclyde, and a man who will no doubt spend a lot of today telling the pubuc spend a lot of today telling the public all about this . if you're public all about this. if you're just joining us, first minister nicholas sturgeon is expected to resign. going take that resign. we're going to take that live about 14 minutes. do not live in about 14 minutes. do not go you have been go anywhere. you have been getting touch to let me know getting in touch to let me know your thoughts on this. thank you very much. carol says not very much. carol has says not a day she the plot.

day soon she lost the plot. a final straw was the trans debate, but cutting the debate, but the cutting off the school during covid, cutting off the doors during covid the school doors during covid sealed judi sealed her fate for me, judi says at i reside on the scottish borders, this is the best news even borders, this is the best news ever. jewel says, good riddance and let's hope scotland gets a first minister with honesty, integrity and vision . a lot of integrity and vision. a lot of you being quite excited about this tonia buxton what did you make of john curtis's analysis of the situation there? i think make of john curtis's analysis of tso situation there? i think make of john curtis's analysis of tso flawed»n there? i think make of john curtis's analysis of tso flawed because i think make of john curtis's analysis of tso flawed because all1ink make of john curtis's analysis of tso flawed because all this it's so flawed because all this whole thing how she dealt whole thing about how she dealt with lockdown better than boris did blows my mind. this is a woman that wore a mask, even though all science said though all the science said don't a mask. this the don't wear a mask. this is the woman that would talk to even woman that i would talk to even wearing them. she even more wearing them. she was even more than the woman that, as i than just the woman that, as i said, cut off doors in schools. she schools. i think she shut down schools. i think she with it horribly . and she dealt with it horribly. and it shows you the spin of it just shows you the spin of the people in the media that want to make her look good in it. she was far worse. and actually because of her and because the things because of the fact, the things that because we had that she did, we because we had weak leaders ourselves , ended up weak leaders ourselves, ended up

putting mandates onto putting mask mandates onto our children it's just it's children. i mean, it's just it's abhorrent . so what he mean abhorrent. so what does he mean by and the other thing by that? and the other thing i wanted to ask is just correct me, because i'm not political and you are. so you me, the scottish people voted, did they not? be independent . not? not to be independent. yeah. so much like brexit. once a living in a democracy, when the people vote for something. why is that not then left alone and move on? it was the wanton and move on? it was the wanton and generation thing and that's very, very sad. and you're so right about the way she led this country nose because she country by the nose because she had to information in had access to information in whitehall about things that might happen next, goes back to scotland, suddenly announces, then the then all of a sudden the westminster government is trailing behind her, trying to capture them with polish policy. she's announcing, but when necessary , her own. and you're necessary, her own. and you're absolutely right, necessary, her own. and you're absolutely right , she necessary, her own. and you're absolutely right, she would still be locked down. now she's down to nicholas sturgeon really, until we got down to zero cases of covid. i just wonder, by the way, you talked to professor anton, you'll know more he's more about this than me. he's not processed free place, so

complicated, so complex , and so complicated, so complex, and so lacking in anybody else that she might hope to even resurrect her career within this programme , to career within this programme, to replace her by somebody coming up and saying, actually, there isn't anybody to replace her that's worrying . that's really that's worrying. that's really worrying. but i believe it is possible . and the problem is possible. and the problem is with that is, is that she she is the snp. yes we've got to think of any can you think of any other politicians that would come to know the name of any of us? we were all saying that was actually because she's been such actually because she's been such a force scottish a dominant force in scottish politics so long, but she's cast everybody into a shadow of anonymity, effectively. yes, yes, right. now is an yes, that's right. and now is an opportunity all people opportunity for all the people within to come forward . within the snp to come forward. we just heard some names that kate forbes , robinson kate forbes, angus robinson robertson is also the constitution secretary , a hands constitution secretary, a hands off hands a yousef who is the health secretary that there are various people who who i guess are waiting in the wings to come forward. the last thing the scottish conservatives tweeted

about nicholas sturgeon was 15 hours ago and they'd made up a image of her rather almost like a wanted poster. and it says nicholas sturgeon is out of touch with the public on gender self i d less than a third of scottish public support. nicola sturgeon's gender recognition, they said. a new poll has found she is out of touch with the scottish public. no doubt , she scottish public. no doubt, she won't admit to that when she talks to the public in 10 minutes. but let's wait and see. we will go to that live at just just about 11:00, your views as well at home. thank you for keeping them coming. helen says calm down, nicholas sturgeon is going, but the snp remain. it's the whole snp government not just nicholas sturgeon. i detest what the snp stand for, but you might get a worse snp leader. i'm sure you will because what does what does the snp represent at the moment to any of those except nicholas sturgeon? that's right. so we're all going enough to learn all over again what the snp all about . well, whoever snp are all about. well, whoever that person is, they're going to

have quickly come out have to very quickly come out of the starting and tell us the starting blocks and tell us whether want a no. the whether they want a no. the reference, absolute devolution. absolutely of absolutely be the main kind of defining for them going defining factor for them going forward. they are forward. but surely they are redundant but i mean the redundant now. but i mean the reason that they've gone on for so as they've taken all the so long as they've taken all the labour so let's hope that labour vote so let's hope that maybe the conservatives if they can and mainly labour step up, step up and act for the scottish people so she can, so the whole party can just go away. you're right, labour to have right, labour are going to have to. have never won an to. labour have never won an election in this country without getting a significant number of seats but once time seats in scotland. but once time they had over 40. so that's to be their battleground here . that be their battleground here. that could be the end of the snp. i also wonder though actually as recover the hangover from the lockdown policies , we're seeing lockdown policies, we're seeing it everywhere. we're seeing it in all of economy. we're seeing it in all the health of our children, the health of our nation. we see in excess deaths of people who did not cancer treatments may be home popularity. tonya is slightly

tied to the fact that she was the most brutal when it came to more lockdowns , more more lockdowns, more restrictions. maybe this is the pubuc restrictions. maybe this is the public saying actually now we're seeing we're seeing what you did to our economy . you're saying to our economy. you're saying what you did to our children. yeah yeah, i think you're completely right. she was the most draconian without any sense of would do scottish of what it would do to scottish people, scottish economy, and in particular scottish youth. particular the scottish youth. you right you are completely right there and hoping this is the and i'm hoping that this is the awakening we need awakening because we need to have across the have an awakening across the world of how we behave to each other and how the governments behave to their people during lockdown. we are not in this crisis. we're not in a financial crisis. we're not in a financial crisis globally because of the war in ukraine or because of brexit as everybody likes to say, we are in this because of the way we reacted to lockdown . the way we reacted to lockdown. and i'm really hoping that the british public are waking up and the public generally are waking up and saying this was done to us. well, that'll happen again. ironically, it should have been day two of the covid inquiry

today. exactly. this inquiry which now been delayed because there are too many redacted documents, apparently , and documents, apparently, and people giving evidence. people who are giving evidence. i might be talking about this a little bit later show. little bit later in the show. people evidence people who are giving evidence are furious. there's so much secrecy around. of secrecy still around. lots of the the the documents related to the covid inquiry. yeah, we don't know yet. mike what she's going to say and what she to come out and say and what she will be. i think we can kind of get you she has a list of get you know, she has a list of achievements and how, you know, i as the torch bearer for i stood as the torch bearer for scottish independence. the people that people of scotland want that kind but actually kind of stuff. but actually tony's just outline the backdrop to it. going back three or four years. but i genuine believe that one interview when she had to explain gender self declaration she was exposed as being somebody who very good on you know expounding fantastic theories but then when asked factually explain this one because we all understand it, it's a very straightforward matter she couldn't. so i think i think she lost incredible

amounts of credibility in that one interview. and also, i feel the journalists were quite fearful of her. yes up until now, they're quite fearful they wouldn't ask questions because she was she was kind of dictator ish the that she when ish in the way that she when you're you know, she rolled you're out, you know, she rolled her only just they did her eyes and only just they did the. yeah. loved the. exactly. yeah. she loved doing that. just being. yeah. but know, i think but again, you know, i think maybe journalists will maybe now the journalists will journal as supposed journal as they're supposed to do of the questions do and ask some of the questions of her reign, as it were. and of her 40 reign, as it were. and one main things is that, one of the main things is that, you just 18 teachers in you know, just 18 teachers in scotland. you imagine scotland. yes can you imagine that? was one of her policy that? that was one of her policy issues. was then the fact issues. but it was then the fact that she couldn't stand by it and then said, okay, we'll reinstate them, we reinstate them, but we won't give we're going to give you reinstate them, but we won't givemoree going to give you reinstate them, but we won't givemore moneyying to give you reinstate them, but we won't givemore money for to give you reinstate them, but we won't give more money for it. give you reinstate them, but we won't give more money for it. you; you reinstate them, but we won't give more money for it. you need any more money for it. you need to them. and in fact, i to keep them. and in fact, i think in fact employ a few more. she actually said. let's see what you've saying. you've what you've been saying. you've been in touch home on been getting in touch at home on twitter news and also twitter at gb news and also email me views. actually email me gb views. actually gbnews.uk. alison has said absolutely this. absolutely gutted about this. nicola an incredible nicola has been an incredible leader. and oh that is the leader. wow and oh that is the snp , the mp for glasgow,

snp, the mp for glasgow, scotland . but let me just see scotland. but let me just see who that was. okay so that was alison thewliss who is the snp mp for glasgow central. that's what she just said. now this one, this is from stephen kerr, msp . this says nicholas sturgeon msp. this says nicholas sturgeon looks around at the mess of her own making gender reform nhs crisis strikes council funding , crisis strikes council funding, a9 delays, education disasters, ferry and more and she threw in the towel. no, not about. oh, i think of this. i think her incompetency was a enormous because scotland are over represented in this country they've got their own holyrood like there's a secretary of state for scotland in westminster they've got represent entities in westminster, they've got about three different administrations now with all of that and with the ball formula funding she could have made scotland a very competitive country within the union and she utterly failed . union and she utterly failed. she went completely the other way and just in my view,

destroyed scotland in so many ways culturally, politically and relationship wise with england. absolutely. we're seeing more messages now popping up on this is from the snp member of parliament for glasgow south. a stuart macdonald. he's posted a picture of him with nicholas sturgeon and he said nicholas sturgeon and he said nicholas sturgeon is the finest public servant of the devolution age. her public service, personal resilience and commitment to scotland is unmatched and she has served our party unlike anyone else. it will be an enormous loss as first minister and snp leader. thank you, he says with an exclamation mark, thanking them. more of your messages here, margaret said. best news ever snp ruined scotland. the arrogance of nicholas sturgeon. all she wanted was independence and to hell with everything else . it's hell with everything else. it's very good coming to me and so we've got about 4 minutes. tony, you. what? what do you expect her to say in this? i think mike's probably right. we'll have a list of her achievements . surprised if she . i wouldn't be surprised if she

puts a shot the bowels of puts a shot across the bowels of rishi in westminster, rishi sunak in westminster, though. she though. oh, god, yes. she absolutely . you what? absolutely. but you know what? i would like as soon as she would really like as soon as she comes on, love someone to comes on, i'd love someone to just come up and look at the decline of scots. and since 2014, took over, how 2014, since she took over, how many more drug addictions there are scotland . look at the are in scotland. look at the mess that is nhs , look at mess that is that nhs, look at what's happened to the education system scotland during system in scotland during this time there should someone time there should be someone ready counter everything that ready to counter everything that she's to be she's because she's going to be full of bluster of how fabulous she was. yeah. and she's she was. yeah. and that she's tired doubt she will also tired and no doubt she will also talk the democracy, her talk about the democracy, her frustrate the democratic frustrate with the democratic process have process not being allowed have another referendum. she'll talk about democratic process about the democratic process in the blocking her the westminster blocking her gender recognition act. yeah, i think that's going to be a lot of but but her views on democracy in scotland are based on completely flawed because she was taking percentages as if only certain portions of the population just saw it. i mean , population just saw it. i mean, and saying, you know, let me do it. i've got 60, 63% and 50. if you show it to me. yeah, i think

the main thing she'll say, we've got an expert coming to tell us is her main thing theme will be i was brought down by westminster tory austerity yet right? tom harwood has joined me in the studio . tom, what do we in the studio. tom, what do we know now that we didn't know from you? 55 minutes ago? well, there's been a lot of reaction, obviously , to this news. there obviously, to this news. there are lots of people trying to diagnose exactly why it is that nicholas sturgeon has said that today she will likely be resigning, or at least this is what the reports are suggesting. we will hear from her in just a couple of minutes time now. but clearly, there is a multitude of factors at play here. some people say that the public services that are being provided in scotland are not good enough. there's been a long history of, poor education results . it's in poor education results. it's in scotland of lagging behind england when england has been improving its educational attainment. but similarly, there has been a lot of question of a

scandal within her party. there is this big question of what happened. is this big question of what happened . to six, £800,000 that happened. to six, £800,000 that was donated towards a cause for independence that seems to have disappeared from the snp books. questions to answer there. and a probe has begun . and then also probe has begun. and then also of course, this of how the gender gender i.d. debate was handled, something that most scots do not see as a priority so. most people across the united kingdom do not put it in their top list of issues, no matter which of the debate they fall on. and it seemed like scottish politics became with it. that made nicholas sturgeon look out of touch . it also look out of touch. it also exposed a certain from her. she's always been seen to be a very common sense media performer and yet when she was asked on some of these questions surrounding gender issues, she has become more flustered and perhaps some of the shine has

come off her. we not forget she's been in the post as first minister for just over eight years now, succeeding alex salmond without an election back in 2014. so to some extent there will be people in the snp who think that really she's been in the job long enough. where is the job long enough. where is the longest serving snp first minister in scotland ? we're just minister in scotland? we're just watching live pictures here at home. this is bute house in, edinburgh, the scottish flag there for radio listeners . there there for radio listeners. there are members of the press around are members of the press around a lectern which is waiting for nicholas sturgeon to come out. is she a punctual kind of person? tom i get the impression she probably is some politician . do you think might saunter in 20 minutes i'm guessing 20 minutes late? i'm guessing she's going to there she's going to be there very soon. usually is punctual. soon. she usually is punctual. of course. we've seen time and time with covered time again with her covered press she press conferences, which she continued beyond continued right through beyond for uk government press for time the uk government press conferences were taking place. some people criticised her, of

course, for this using what to the ends of what some people described as party political broadcasts in the run up to an election. but clearly she is a fan of a press conference. she is very well used to standing behind a lectern like the one that we can see on our screens. now, although this is an occasion that she will not have been wanting to happen, no doubt there will have been behind the scenes pressure leading up to this moment, and it will be very interesting to watch her body language and how she speaks and, how that is different from the times at which she seemed like she was in unassailable control of scotland. today, i think we will see a woman who's power has been ripping away and it might well seem like a very different nicholas sturgeon behind that. what do you think she has to say, tom, to damage for damage limitation for the snp today ? limitation for the snp today? it's very , very difficult to see it's very, very difficult to see because whenever we see political parties of go from one

leader to the next, we always see some blood letting. we always see the end kernels of a party that they may well have want to keep behind closed doors for a very long time. it's expected there will be a contest leadership election within the snp and that may well not be a good moment for the party. you will see the most extreme ends of the party. try and campaign. try and push it down a more radical path. you will see leadership candidate s bow not to the electorate of scotland but to the electorates of the snp and whether we saw it with the labour party back in 2015 when they elected jeremy corbyn or the conservative party just last year in the election of liz truss. very often these parties get accused of to talking themselves rather than the and that can have a negative effect on the poll ratings. it's true, one should just playing the engush one should just playing the english tongue in the end, won't you say it was all the english

fault, wasn't anything to do with that is the default with me? that is the default position of nicholas sturgeon with me? that is the default posi that of nicholas sturgeon with me? that is the default posi that of what las sturgeon with me? that is the default posi that of what we sturgeon with me? that is the default posithatof what we have eon and that is what we have seen. nicola throughout nicola do throughout her political career. she joined the party at age of 16. she party at the age of 16. she joined youth parties joined the youth parties national at age of national executive at the age of 17 when she was the younger political candidate scotland political candidate in scotland in the 1992 general election. and became an snp. msp . in and she became an snp. msp. in 1999 when still in her twenties she was in the first ever shadow cabinet in the scottish parliament. she was seen to be very close to alex salmond at that time. she has been her entire adult life in bude in this party and reached the of a first minister. this has been her entire life and everything has come up to this point today. it was clearly leaked recently wasn't there tom of alex salmond talking at a like an after in a speech where he was really criticising nicholas sturgeon for not being able to say what a woman was what's their

relationship like now ? well, of relationship like now? well, of course, the big fractures point between nicholas sturgeon and alex salmond came a couple of years ago with those sexual harassment allegations against alex salmond and the betrayal that we saw in in those two individuals appearing before committee of the of the scottish parliament. now, that relationship has been very, very bitter. alex salmond formed his own party, the alba party in opposition to the snp. it stood against snp candidates in the last scottish elections , last scottish elections, although it didn't win any seat . there was clearly a lot of bitterness between alex salmond and nicholas sturgeon and now alex salmond is going around and saying that nicola sturgeon's obsession with gender reform has damaged the cause for scottish independence. just last week we saw a poll showing support for independence dipped below 40. that's a ten point drop from

some of the polls that we saw dunng some of the polls that we saw during the height of the pandemic. no doubt that will have played in into this decision today as well . we're decision today as well. we're seeing divisions within the seeing some divisions within the snp, a party that is usually so unite it that usually, at least on the surface, presents such impenetrable front . it doesn't impenetrable front. it doesn't like dissent within its ranks, it doesn't like the sort of normal discussion that we might see in westminster when the rebels and whatever else within the party that had been the point up until this of gender war began within the party you started to see for the first time some of those individuals breaking away from the party line, most notably, perhaps joanna cherry, who started speaking out against these reforms from nicholas sturgeon. and so some these cracks began to be seen within the party that had seemed so uniform for so long. and no doubt those those cracks within the party have been bubbling up. of course, we saw the resignation of ian

blackford as the leader in westminster only a few weeks ago, and similarly now we are seeing . the likely resignation seeing. the likely resignation of nicholas sturgeon at bute house in edinburgh today. perhaps this is all part of the same sort of tension that is thatis same sort of tension that is that is coming to bear across the party. alex somerset i think it was only about a week ago, the quote was she's been reduced nicholas sturgeon to the stumbling coherence when stumbling and coherence when people to laugh at people are starting to laugh at you, you should really as you're trying to defend the indefensible is what she was saying. is that what happened, mike parry, was it that tipped over from her being somebody was incredibly marmite? i mean, a lot of our viewers here getting in touch and saying how much they how happy they are about her resignation today. but something the last something changed in the last couple she became a bit couple a week. she became a bit of joke like a lot of people of a joke like a lot of people who are right at the top, sometimes extreme confidence tipped into blatant

tipped over into blatant arrogance and that arrogance then i think the scottish people will start to think, she's taking me for a fool , you know, taking me for a fool, you know, a strong leader , confident, a strong leader, confident, delivering policies , got the delivering policies, got the country behind them. fine but then starting to and interpret your own policies against, common sense and the scottish people are very well out of common sense . and also i think common sense. and also i think there's great business culture in scotland wherever i go there. always impressed by the way good things work, you know, hotel and transport not. and they were getting weren't they, getting hammered weren't they, by policies on the economy. by her policies on the economy. who's getting hammered. why? who's getting hammered. and why? i worked against her. i think it's worked against her. but just to answer question but just to answer your question , last few i've , i think in the last few i've seen her publicly and the stumbling interview trying to explain the transgender. she came over. i know better than you even i can't explain it properly. you have to take my word for it. and i think that's what got to people. but i think she's got away with that for a long time. i do think and i'm just to put my neck on the line here that this 600,000 that's

missing will have lot to do missing will have a lot to do with what's going today. we with what's going on today. we don't it's just don't i don't think it's just the thing we think it the gender thing we think it does like some things does feel like some things possibly has happened to make this today it feels this state mints today it feels like of a sort of crisis like more of a sort of crisis decision it doesn't it because yes she's been having a hard time but you know she's always had hard time she's always had a hard time she's always been enjoyed it and she's been she's enjoyed it and she's enjoyed it. she's thrived on absolutely worlds scotland. but don't worry i'm up for you. that's right. she doesn't mind being the braveheart . yes, being the braveheart. yes, that's what is how she's cast herself. exactly. a few people are messaging the show to say that they think she's going to come out and do a meghan markle and the victim and saying and play the victim and saying that , you know, is none of that, you know, this is none of this is her fault. it's down to england. this is all down to england. this is all down to westminster. well, she didn't bofisis westminster. well, she didn't boris is raising a or two boris is raising a glass or two at you know, because at the moment. you know, because she really particular she was a really particular thorn in boris johnson's side , thorn in boris johnson's side, wasn't thought so. our view is, what have you been saying, which is that best to hit the country

since brexit? i couldn't be happier to back of her. happier to see the back of her. kathleen it's great here kathleen it's a great day here in scotland we get rid of in scotland if we get rid of sturgeon , the snp party is sturgeon, the whole snp party is rubbish, get on rubbish, but let's get on with it rid of hollywood to a it and get rid of hollywood to a great money. david great waste of money. david great waste of money. david great a delighted from great news from a delighted from scotland divisive person scotland this divisive person has finally fallen. she never spoke the majority. this is a great day . not many people. great day. not many people. tanya getting in touch to say that they're they're sad to see the back of her the only tweets managed to find so far from my colleagues in the snp is amazing. it really is amazing. you the general poppy of you know, the general poppy of scotland not rushed forward scotland of not rushed forward in her defence if she's so much for the country she's telling all she has because it's all coming to light. now you know what happened during the covid years and she she looked like was being strong but she wasn't she was just a kind of almost chinese dictator in the way that she was running the country. she was because she's so she really is and we had such weak

is she and we had such weak leadership in westminster , they leadership in westminster, they were following in her trails and that made the one for me that made the main one for me was the masking of in was the masking of children in schools. i will never forgive her was that her for that. that was just that was done on a whim her. was just done on a whim for her. and then again, on a whim, westminster and our children were to suffer of were made to suffer because of that. so so much think that. so there's so much i think it's about making her way to the lectern red. good lectern dressed in red. good morning, everyone . thank you for morning, everyone. thank you for along. i'm sorry to break your half term . break performances of half term. break performances of scotland as . half term. break performances of scotland as. in my half term. break performances of scotland as . in my admittedly scotland as. in my admittedly biased opinion. the very job in the world. it is a privilege beyond . one that has sustained beyond. one that has sustained and inspired me in good times and inspired me in good times and through the toughest hours of my toughest days . i and through the toughest hours of my toughest days. i am proud to stand here as the first female and longest serving incumbent of this office , and i incumbent of this office, and i am very proud of has been

achieved in the years i've been in bute house. however, since very first moments in the job, i have believed that part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right, almost instinctively when the time is right , to make way for time is right, to make way for someone else . and when that time someone else. and when that time came to have the courage to do so, even too many across the country and in my party, it might feel too soon in my head and in my heart i knew 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 to step down. first minister and leader of party. i have asked national secretary of the snp to begin the process of electing a new party leader and i will remain in office until my successor is elected . i know successor is elected. i know

there will some across the country who feel upset by this decision and by the fact i am taking it now. of course balance. there will be others who will. how should i put this? cope with the news just fine . cope with the news just fine. such is the beauty of democracy. but to those who do feel shocked, disappointed perhaps even a bit angry with me, please know that , while hard be in no know that, while hard be in no doubt this is really hard for me. my decision comes from a place of duty and of love. tough perhaps, but love nevertheless for my party and above all, for the country . let me set out as the country. let me set out as best as i can my reasons. first, though i know it will be tempting to see it as such. this decision is not a reaction to short term pressures. of course, there are difficult issues confronting the government just now. but when is that ever not

the case? i have spent almost decadesin the case? i have spent almost decades in frontline politics. a decades in frontline politics. a decade and a half on top or second top rung of government when it comes to navigating choppy waters , resolving, choppy waters, resolving, seemingly intractable issues. or soldiering on when walking away would be the simpler option. i have plenty experience to draw on. so if this was just a question of my ability or my resilience to get through the latest period of pressure, i wouldn't be standing here today. but it's not. this decision comes a deeper and longer term assessment . i know it might seem assessment. i know it might seem sudden , but i have been sudden, but i have been wrestling with it, albeit with oscillating levels of intensity for some weeks. essentially, i've been trying answer two questions. is cutting on rate for me . and more importantly ? is for me. and more importantly? is me carrying on rate for the country. but my party and for

the independent cause i have devoted my life to. i understand why some will automatically answer yes to that second question. but in truth, i have been having to work harder in recent times to convince myself that the answer to either of them , when examined deeply , is them, when examined deeply, is yes. and i've reached the difficult conclusion that it's not. the questions are inextricably linked. but let me . first minister, for over eight years. and i was deputy first minister. the minister for the best part of eight years before that. these jobs are a privilege , but they are also rightly hard , and especially in the case of first minister, relentlessly so. now, to be clear i'm not expecting violence here, but i am a human being as well as a

politician . when i entered politician. when i entered government . in two thousand and government. in two thousand and seven my niece and youngest nephew were babies just months old. as i step down, they're about to celebrate the 17th birthdays. now i think about it. that's exactly the age to be horrified at the thought of your anti suddenly having more time for . my point is this. for you. my point is this. giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. the country does have nothing . but in truth that have nothing. but in truth that can only be done by anyone for so long. for me, it now in danger of becoming too long. first minister is never off duty, particularly in this day and age. that is virtually no . and age. that is virtually no. even ordinary stuff that most people take for granted . going people take for granted. going for a coffee with friends or for a walk in your own becomes. very difficult. and the nature and form of modern political discourse means that that is a

much greater intensity . did i much greater intensity. did i see it? life as a politician . see it? life as a politician. thenin see it? life as a politician. then in years gone by. all in all. and actually for a long time . without being apparent. it time. without being apparent. it takes its toll on you and on those around you . if that is those around you. if that is true in the best of times, it has been more in recent years leading this country through the covid pandemic is far the toughest thing i've. it may well be the toughest thing i ever. no stretch of the imagination my job the hardest in the country dunng job the hardest in the country during that time. but the weight of responsibility was immense . of responsibility was immense. and it's only very i think that i started to comprehend let alone process the physical and mental impact of it on me. so i'm really sick . one for another i'm really sick. one for another few months then the answer is

yes, of course i can . but if the yes, of course i can. but if the question is, can i give this job, everything it demands and deserves another year , let alone deserves another year, let alone for the remainder of this parliament term give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that i have strived do every day for the past eight years. the honestly is different . and as that is my conclusion hard though it has been for me to reach it then given nature and skill of the country faces , and skill of the country faces, ihave and skill of the country faces, i have a duty to see, to know. i feel that duty, first and foremost to our country to ensure that it has the energy of leadership that it needs not just to be. but through the years that to mean of this parliamentary term. and right now very particular sense, now in a very particular sense, i feel that duty to my party to we are at a critical moment the blocking of our referendum as the accepted constitutional route to independence is a democratic outreach . but it puts democratic outreach. but it puts the onus on us to decide how

scottish will be protected and to ensure that the will of the people prevails. my preference of using the westminster election as a facto referendum is well known . i've never is well known. i've never pretended it is perfect nor second best option if it is , nor second best option if it is, nor that there are no alternatives . that there are no alternatives. thatis that there are no alternatives. that is why i have always been clear that the decision must be taken by the snp collectively , taken by the snp collectively, not by me alone . i know my party not by me alone. i know my party well enough to understand that. my well enough to understand that. my view as leader would carry enormous , probably decisive enormous, probably decisive weight when our conference meets next month. and i cannot in good conscience ask the party, choose an option based on my judgement. whilst not being convinced that i would be there as a leader to see it through. but making my decision clear? no, i free the snp to choose the path it believes be the right one without worrying about the perceived implications. my

leadership and in the knowledge that a new leader will, as i believe successfully on that path . now there are two further path. now there are two further reflection that have weeds in. my reflection that have weeds in. my decision. these i suppose i'm all about our political culture and the nature and impact of the dominance and that come from success in politics. first, i hope my party will take heart from one of the difficulties in coming to terms with this decision is that i am confident that i decision is that i am confident thati can decision is that i am confident that i can and would lead the snp to further electoral success. we remain by far the most trusted party in scotland and while for every person in scotland to loves me, that is another who. let's see, might not be quite so enthusiastic . we not be quite so enthusiastic. we are firmly on course to win the next election , while her next election, while her opponents remain adrift . but the

opponents remain adrift. but the longer any leader is in office , longer any leader is in office, the more opinions about them become fixed and very hard to change. and that matters . change. and that matters. individual polls come and go , individual polls come and go, but i am firmly of the view . but i am firmly of the view. there is no majority for independence in scotland . that independence in scotland. that support needs to be solidified and it needs to grow further. if i independent scotland is to have the best foundation to achieve that we must reach across the divide in scottish politics and my judgement, no is that a new leader will be better able to do this . someone whom able to do this. someone whom the mind almost everyone in the country is not already made up for. better or worse. someone is not subject to quite the same opinions. fear or fear as i know . the good news as the country will now get see more clearly. perhaps that the snp is full of talented individual . who's more talented individual. who's more than up to that task. my second

reflection is related to you. i feel more and each day now that the fixed opinions people increasingly have about me . as increasingly have about me. as i see some fear , bothers little see some fear, bothers little more than caricature are being used as barriers to reasoned debate in our country statements and decisions that should not be controversial at all quickly become social issues that are controversial and almost irrationally so . too often i see irrationally so. too often i see issues presented and as a result viewed not in their own merits, but through the prism of what i think and what people . think think and what people. think about me. i've always been of the belief that no one individual should be dominant . individual should be dominant. any system for too long. while it's easy to hold that view in the abstract is much harder to live by. with this decision i am trying to do so. indeed if all

parties were to take this opportunity to depolarise debate just a bit to focus more on issues than on personalities , issues than on personalities, and to reset the tone and the tenor of a discourse , then this tenor of a discourse, then this decision right for me and i believe for my party and the country may also to be good for our politics. i certainly live in hope. now a couple of final points before i take a few questions while i stepping down from leadership. i am not leaving politics. there are many issues i care deeply about and hope to champion in future. one of these is the promise the national so close to my heart through the life chances of expedience young people and ensure they grow up nurtured and loved . my commitment to these loved. my commitment to these young people will be lifelong and obviously that independence

winning independence is the cause.i winning independence is the cause. i have dedicated a lifetime to. it is a cause i believe in with every fibre of being and. it is a cause i am convinced is being one i intend to be there as it is one every step of the way . is it to be there as it is one every step of the way. is it in mourning. i attended the funeral of a very, very friend and longstanding independence activist . a wonderful man by activist. a wonderful man by name of allan angus. it was actually during that funeral service that i went from being 99% certain about this decision to 100% certain, do i knew allan would not be a total happy to have plead any part in my departure. so sorry i would . but departure. so sorry i would. but his funeral reminded that the cause of independence is so much bigger than anyone individual. all of us who believe in it, contribute in different ways, at

different stages . our lives. different stages. our lives. since i was 16, i have contribute , as an activist, a contribute, as an activist, a campaigner and a leader. contribute, as an activist, a campaigner and a leader . and so campaigner and a leader. and so now, as we look to what i firmly is the final stage in scotland's journey to independence , albeit journey to independence, albeit a hard one, i to hope all the experience and perspective i've gathered over these years to help get us there . lastly, there help get us there. lastly, there will be time in the days to come for me and others to reflect on what has been achieved during my time as first minister and pretty certain there will be plenty of commentary for my mistakes as well . i will have mistakes as well. i will have more to say . i mistakes as well. i will have more to say. i admit mistakes as well. i will have more to say . i admit office mistakes as well. i will have more to say. i admit office , but more to say. i admit office, but allow me some brief reflection since no scotland is a change country, since 2014 and in so, so many ways it is changed for the better. young people , the better. young people, depnved the better. young people, deprived backgrounds. i've never had a better chance of going to university t than an investment to double early learning and

childcare , transforming childcare, transforming opportunities for the youngest children. it's also enabling more women to return to work. the baby is enshrining our aspiration that every child should have the best start in life . scotland is feeder today life. scotland is feeder today than it was in 2014. we have a more progressive approach to taxation and a new social security system with the scottish child payment at heart as the institute for fiscal studies confirmed last week, the pound has families with children in scotland are now pound has families with children in scotland are no w £2,000 in scotland are now £2,000 better off as a result of our policies remaining in this cost of living crisis . that will be of living crisis. that will be the difference between food on the difference between food on the table and a warm home for nought. there are stronger protections for victims of domestic abuse. and parliament will soon consider legislation to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual offences. i be the strongest possible advocate for these reforms from the backbenches . reforms from the backbenches. we've also shown over these past

few years what can be done with the full powers of a nation creating institutions are part of the transition to becoming independent. you tax and social security agencies a network of trade hubs across the world and a state owned investment bank ready to help the country reap the industrial benefits of a vast, renewable . there is so vast, renewable. there is so that i am proud of, but there is always so much more to be done. i look forward to watching with pride as my successor picks up the baton . it will also be time the baton. it will also be time in the days to come for me to see thank you to a very, very long list of people without whom i would not have lasted a single day in this job, let alone eight years. i wouldn't do so today. i might inadvertently forget someone , or perhaps more likely someone, or perhaps more likely start to cry . but there are a start to cry. but there are a couple of exceptions . firstly, couple of exceptions. firstly, my husband and family. couple of exceptions. firstly, my husband and family . you my husband and family. you people understand the price.

families of politicians pay the jobs. we choose to do. mine have been my work throughout . and of been my work throughout. and of course the snp since . i was 16 course the snp since. i was 16 years old. you have been my extended family . thank you for extended family. thank you for the honour of being your leader . it seems to me that it emphatically election victories eight years in a bad record . eight years in a bad record. finally and above all the people of this beautiful talented, diverse , at times disputatious diverse, at times disputatious but who is wonderful country , we but who is wonderful country, we face the toughest of times together and. did everything i could to guide us through that. often from my very familiar podium in st andrew's house, the return i was sustained through penod return i was sustained through period by a wave of from you that i will remember and value the rest my life. to the people of scotland . to all of the

of scotland. to all of the people of scotland . whether you people of scotland. whether you voted for me or not. please know , being your first minister has been the privilege of my life . been the privilege of my life. nothing. absolutely i do. in future will ever come anywhere close . thank you. from the very close. thank you. from the very bottom of my heart . forgive me . bottom of my heart. forgive me. i'm not going to do my usual go round. absolutely. every journalist . the room. there will journalist. the room. there will be time over the next few weeks, i'm sure, for you to ask me questions. but i'll take a few questions. but i'll take a few questions for now. and i'll start with glen campbell from the bbc westminster. and you can read scotland's independence since sorry first minister, if you cannot lead scotland to independence who, if anyone can . and what is the timetable now for your replacement . and on for your replacement. and on a slightly lighter note do you know or douglas was as a result

of a bet . i know or douglas was as a result of a bet. i think it was 50. so if he's already it to 100 that we may have words there. i will let mr. ross have debate at my part. you'll keep winning the elections . and on your other elections. and on your other questions on the timetable, that's a matter for the snp national executive committee. i'm sure it will set out the timetable for the election of a new snp over the coming days and i will office when my successor has been elected and then obviously subject to the will of parliament to be elected as the new first minister and i and this is a question that no matter how many times you ask it of me over the next few weeks, no matter how many inventive ways find of asking it, i am not going to see who my preference will be to succeed . what i do will be to succeed. what i do know is that the snp is awash , know is that the snp is awash, talented individuals of the things that i've often reflected on is that when a political

party, any political party in any country has very dominant individuals , the other is individuals, the other is through no fault of the dominant individual. i should see a sometimes for the one of trying. often others a bit eclipsed there. so what i am looking forward to and i think the country will enjoy over these next few weeks is seeing that talent on seeing the array of talent on seeing the array of talent i, i have led this country closer to independence. i believe we are in the final phase of journey. i think it will be because now we have the dual challenge, the one we always had of convincing a majority to a solid, sustainable majority to a solid, sustainable majority of the merits of independence. but also secondly challenge that is new finding in the face of westminster anti—democratic opposition that democratic route to allowing the will of the scottish people to be expressed. and i believe that my successor. i firmly believe that my successor, whoever he or she may be, will scotland

independence. and i'll cheering him or her on every single step of the we cannot give up from skye as first minister. and you say that you've been wrestling with this decision for a number of weeks now, and it's not reaction to. some issues over the last couple of weeks, couple of months. do you believe, though, that the issues and particularly the row around trans gender prisoners was the straw that broke the camel's back here ? and second of all, back here? and second of all, has it been a failure of your leadership, not to have delivered independence , as that delivered independence, as that was your sort of founding mission back in 2014. i leave other people to be the judge of leadership it's probably a bit invidious beyond saying what i'm proud of and taking this country ever closer to independence is one of those things. it's a bit invidious for me to cast that judgement. no, that issue wasn't the final straw. look, i'm long enough truth been in enough in the truth been in politics as all of you know for a long, long time. going a long, long time. i'm not going to here and insult your

to stand here and insult your intelligence live intelligence and see that i live intelligence and see that i live in a world that is divorced from the realities of what is going on around me. but it's not the case that this decision is because of short term issues i faced more short term issues from time to time over my years in politics than i care to remember . and if it was just, remember. and if it was just, i wouldn't be standing here today. what i would see, though, is this. and i did allude to this in my remarks, i suppose i look at some of the issues that are being hotly debated in scotland right now. one of the things that i right now. one of the things thati do right now. one of the things that i do regret, i suppose , is that i do regret, i suppose, is not being able to bring a more rational approach to these debates . and i think that goes debates. and i think that goes back to some of what i said earlier these debates, some of them, one in particular right now is obviously controversial in its own right. but i think layered on to the there layered on to the top of there has been people's views about has been people's views me about independence and suddenly debates that should be at rational and that we should be

capable as a country of having rationally become something very different. and i will always be a voice for quality equality, for human rights and dignity. and i have been and will always be a famous list. i will fight for women's rights . i will stand for women's rights. i will stand up against threats to women's rights at every day that i have brave in my body. but i'll also stand up for any stigmatise discriminated against, marginalised and vulnerable in society. and i believe and call me an optimist. not many people call me an optimist, but i am an optimist . i call me an optimist, but i am an optimist. i believe call me an optimist, but i am an optimist . i believe these call me an optimist, but i am an optimist. i believe these things and must, in any progressive , and must, in any progressive, inclusive society , find ways of inclusive society, find ways of co—existing and overall actually in politics. in the future, i will always seek to do everything i can to turn that into a reality . comic. how have

into a reality. comic. how have you gone from plenty in the tank three weeks ago to an empty tank today? what is it that's changed over the last few weeks? you've mentioned things. the only thing you didn't mention is the police inquiry the party's inquiry into the party's finances i look , these things finances. i look, these things are not the reason i'm standing here today . these are not here today. these are not factors . nor will my decision to factors. nor will my decision to affect these things and all these things will take the i said something in my remarks that i appreciate will divide opinion in scotland . i'm a human opinion in scotland. i'm a human being . and every human being, being. and every human being, every d wrestles with a whole load of conflict and emotions . load of conflict and emotions. and over the last number of weeks, probably since around turn of the year, you know, i've been struggling with with just that, you know, i get up the morning and i, i tell myself, usually i convince myself that i've got what it takes to keep

going and keep going and going. but then i realise that's maybe not as true . and you go through not as true. and you go through a process of justice getting where it is and that decision you're going to fall and that's the decision come to today. i could go for on another few months. i don't know, months, a yean months. i don't know, months, a year, maybe . but i know that as year, maybe. but i know that as time passed i would have less and less energy to give to the job. and i can't do the job when anything other than a 100% basis the country deserves nothing less than that . that's less than that. that's a judgement i've come to , if judgement i've come to, if that's my feeling going to get in a relatively short space of time to where i am today. then i owe it to the country to see it now. so that that new leadership can be in place. and as i said in relation to my party, i don't want to stand a conference for a month or so from now and ask my party to take my judgement up for a pass , knowing that for a pass, knowing that i doubts about my ability to see it through as leader. this a

better thing to do to do for me, for my party and i believe for the country to . first minister. the country to. first minister. i it's fair to the country to. first minister. i it's fairto say the country to. first minister. i it's fair to say that the nhs is in a really serious situation . the attainment between rich and poor pupils , which you had and poor pupils, which you had said was one of your core missions as . said was one of your core missions as. first minister remains pretty wide and despite what you're seeing today, polls suggest that you've got nowhere near creating a sustained majority for independence . do majority for independence. do you have regrets about one or any of those issues. oh again, james, i'm a human being. i don't know if you've got regrets about things in your life. of course i've got a case of all sorts of things in my life. and as i reflect to my time as first minister, there'll be things i hugely proud of and things that i regret if i had time i regret and if i had my time again, i might do differently. and there'll and forgive me. there'll be plenty time to do plenty of time for me to do that. i'm sure will be plenty of

time for you. do that. and i'm sure you so . yeah, but i'm proud sure you so. yeah, but i'm proud my time as first minister and i'm also proud that i know when it's i'm also proud that i know when wsfime i'm also proud that i know when it's time to move on and to pass on to someone else. i'm the country the cause. i believe in my party everything is bigger than any politician , no matter than any politician, no matter who they are and no dominant they've been for no how much time . you know, politicians come time. you know, politicians come and go. who all the time. the country is what matters and the future of the country is what matters. i'm proud of the part have played and hope to continue to play in a different capacity in the future of this country. i think in terms of leadership, it's think in terms of leadership, wsfime think in terms of leadership, it's time for someone else. i think the easier sometimes thing to do and the thing that traditionally politicians meant to do is calling on and on and on and on and on until you know everybody is sort of pushing for you to go, it's harder because there's always reasons not to.

yeah. for a bit longer. i can do this if i stay a bit longer, you know, something might happen. it's always easier the it's always easier to find the reasons, not make a decision. reasons, not to make a decision. i think it's better the i think it's better make the decision when you know in your heart the right one heart that it's the right one for it's your country. i'm for you. it's your country. i'm i'm not sure what see the sentence actually i would be 53 this year . i sentence actually i would be 53 this year. i entered parliament when i was 40, a 29. i've been in government since i was 37. i have literally done this in one capacity or another for all of my life . i've been nicholas my life. i've been nicholas sturgeon the politician, but all of my life been a privilege. i have done things met, people gone, places , experiences i gone, places, experiences i would never have done . i have would never have done. i have a depth of gratitude . the party depth of gratitude. the party that i lead to, the country that i serve can never find the words to express. i haven't reached the stage in my life. maybe i want to spend a bit of time on nicholas sturgeon the person,

the human being and contribute differently . and does that sound differently. and does that sound in some ways selfish? i hope it because i have given and in whatever way i can continue to give everything i can and service this country. but i need for me . and i think it's right for me. and i think it's right for me. and i think it's right for the country to do that in a different way in future and that is what i'm seeking to do. and the more i talk more convinced i and this is the right decision for me and i don't we. scott from itv i'm going to end up doing what i said i wouldn't do. i'm not going to do that. at least . first minister, we've least. first minister, we've heard rumblings divisions within the weeks, the party in recent weeks, particularly certain particularly around certain issues ultimately, you lose issues. ultimately, did you lose trust in your leadership from key members of your party? i think you'd have to individuals to give the views of my leadership. i think any objective analysis would suggest that that's not true. you know, i enjoy . it. that that's not true. you know, i enjoy. it. and but. i even in

times that would be described, have been described by most of you as tough . i enjoy the you as tough. i enjoy the approval ratings after eight years in government that leaders would give the real arm for. so you know, yes, of course the longer any leader is in office, the more people will find things to disagree with you on because nobody agrees with other person 100. and that concept of are that who idea of longevity in politics longer you lead, the more you know you will you will find that people find it hard agree with you on but you know i believe i could if it was just about can i lead this party country forward certainly party to electoral success. the answer is yes, but it is much deeper than that, which is what i've been trying to give a sense of to the i who have next. kieran jenkins if you are just joining us, you are listening to scotland's first minister, nicholas sturgeon, who has

resigned rather dramatically she she gave a speech there in which she's saying actually she intends to resign, which means she will stay in the post whilst the snp decides political process and the timing of which the schedule of which will lead to her successor . tom harwood is to her successor. tom harwood is with me also mike parry and tonia buxton are still in the studio to assess this. tom it was a sort of soft nicholas sturgeon than we used to think was trying very hard to appeal to. perhaps she did a bit of a jacinda rada and she was talking about the pressures of this job, the fact that she can't go for a coffee with her french toast, the brutality around society and social failings towards her. she didn't, i don't think, throws many people under the bus as i thought she might do if she went out of the door. that was a little bit surprising and she kind of made this this. could you draw this conclusion that actually her character has been too for some of the issues too big for some of the issues she wants to discuss, ought to be discussed rationally . she

be discussed rationally. she kept using that word. what your what did you make of it? oh, yeah it is interesting, because thatis yeah it is interesting, because that is actually something that we're see of in we're going to see a lot of in the coming weeks, that this contest doubt take place contest will no doubt take place in sturgeon has been in nicholas sturgeon has been such huge figure within the such a huge figure within the that actually there is no sort of immediate obvious successor as there was when she became the first minister. she was she was the only candidate to succeed alex salmond and now there are so many different names that are being thrown in the mix in terms of who might succeed her and not many people what these people stand . so we going to see some stand. so we going to see some voices and some names that perhaps not many people across the country and particularly familiar with going this enormous job to lead one of the big devolved in this country. but it is notable how nicholas sturgeon spoke about being for her entire life since she was the age of 16. nicholas sturgeon the age of 16. nicholas sturgeon the politician and now at the

age of 53, she wants to become the person , the human being. she the person, the human being. she spoke about wanting to spend more time with , her nieces and more time with, her nieces and nephews, about thinking about the independence movement in the round, sitting at the funeral , a round, sitting at the funeral, a close friend yesterday thinking that actually this is something bigger than her herself. a no doubt that has played into this decision . well, but i think it decision. well, but i think it would be remiss to talk about the issues that scotland faces, the issues that scotland faces, the policy failures that clearly have place. sturgeon wanted to sort of skirt over those in the q&a session that she wanted to say, this isn't about any particular issue. every government always has challenges, but i think it would be remiss to ignore these particular challenges her government is facing. the poll ratings for independence that have been sliding in recent weeks clearly . these, along with weeks clearly. these, along with the divisions in her party, have played into this decision. she she said, actually, what we were discussing , which is that she discussing, which is that she said she's to navigating these choppy waters when she was

asked, is this a short term decision because of what you're facing the moment? and she said, no, have plenty experience in no, i have plenty experience in negotiating those choppy waters, which what saying which is what we were saying just spoke. she just before she spoke. she didn't make any reference she didn't make any reference she didn't allude to any particular crisis , though, did she, that crisis, though, did she, that might be living in the background. she's very grateful for the support her family as she about a long she talks about deeper a long term assessment that she has been considering this said been considering this she said i've with it with i've been wrestling with it with these two questions is carrying on right for me is carrying on right for my party and therefore the independence course and it's been a deep examination . there been a deep examination. there was no massive revelations in that time really was , the. no, that time really was, the. no, i don't think we should expect any big revelations today . no doubt big revelations today. no doubt more will come out the coming days and weeks as people around nicholas sturgeon past people to herinner nicholas sturgeon past people to her inner circle will start to speak and maybe some arguments will be had as no doubt always takes place in these sort of leadership contests will be some

more bitterness going forward. but i think it's one thing to note the one time is the particular position now leaves the labour party in scotland who since 2015 have been completely wiped out , since 2015 have been completely wiped out, have since 2015 have been completely wiped out , have not been seen as wiped out, have not been seen as a credible, serious force, have been not not the second largest party, even but the third largest party in scotland. this party, even but the third largegivesrty in scotland. this party, even but the third largegives the n scotland. this party, even but the third largegives the labourand. this party, even but the third largegives the labour party his now gives the labour party enormous opportunity in scotland to regain those they lost to regain those seats they lost in 2015 and that makes potentially leave keir starmer's path to number 10 a lot easier than it was yesterday. okay thank you, tom. i'm dying to know what tonia buxton and mike parry make of this, but i think we're going to go a guest now. we're going up to a scotland believe in just a moment. there we go. there's our correspondent. hello, tony maguire, the gb news coast band up in scotland. what's the reaction there ? central hello. reaction there? central hello. well, i'm surrounded . by well, i'm surrounded. by probably about 200 people who came to say today to watch the designations beach on their phones and we heard some some

quite met nurses there from nicklaus sturgeon about things that she wished she could have done better. she that to view many reasons for her leaving would obviously at a funeral of snp campaigner alan where she went from 99 to 100% sure and obviously is you've just spoken about there but tom and the general change in the landscape of politics and how her home was cult of personality has really affected the way that she can navigate around policy . okay all navigate around policy. okay all right. thank thank you very much. that was tony maguire. the outside abuse house in edinburgh, as i said, i'm dying to know what my panel make of that, mike parry, let me come to you. we were sat here. yeah. analysing what nicholas sturgeon might say on her way out. how does compare what we what does it compare to what we what we. well i, i said before she actually announced her resignation, i thought she was going it was all

going to claim that it was all a nasty people down at westminster, know, tory westminster, you know, tory austerity. she didn't come to that. and appreciate what that. and i appreciate what thomas was all in thomas just said. it was all in the well, we that the business. well, we know that this might give a this sunday she might give a number interviews to number of interviews to newspapers something newspapers or something like that. will that. and you know, more will emerge . she could well be emerge. she could well be already putting together in her head the reasons why she has given it up, you know what i mean? because with liz truss in two. yeah yeah. yeah. because of that book i don't have much sympathy for politician who one minute a brush and minute about a brush and a striding forward and they want the respect of everybody as a leader who the next when something's gone wrong because something's gone wrong because something clearly has gone wrong or saying i'm just a human being , i don't want violence but i'm human being. a sheer arrogance came out in the third or fourth paragraph when she said that , paragraph when she said that, you know, my resignation have to say some might feel come too soon. i thought i never said that. no in boxes they've go but i thought it's a nice humble

touch, you know, as you move on touch, you know, as you move on to the next part of your political career who like nicholas sturgeon surrounded by yes they tell this chamber that they live. yes yes they did tell us so you know what people going to be quite happy to just before she came out to the to the podium today, maybe somebody said no. you're sure you want to do this, nicola? well some may feel it's too soon, but when she asked for another, she asked for another back by another pats on the back by saying, but i've had the courage to do it. yeah, i mean, she wants applauding for that as well. just want to let well. i just, i just want to let our viewers listeners our viewers and listeners know because it's a story because i know it's a story which all as closely as which we are all as closely as we can, lancashire police will be holding a conference amid the ongoing bailey ongoing search for nicola bailey quite soon, i believe. gb news bnng quite soon, i believe. gb news bring you any developments we will take that press conference as and when it happens. we're talking, course, if you just talking, of course, if you just joining about the shock joining us about the shock resignation of nicholas sturgeon as the leader of the snp , as the leader of the snp, scotland's first lady, tonya let me come to you. i saw you

furiously scribbling down notes when nicholas sturgeon was talking that she made a great deal she will devote deal about much. she will devote her life now. she's not politics. she wants to make a commitment to children, young people. why she do that? when she was in office going in, she actually put them and all these things that she said she was a success of. well, she's fibbing. i mean, the reality come out when you have to look at what she's for young people in she's done for young people in scotland for scotland, what she's done for the of scotland what the education of scotland what she's the nhs, all it she's done to the nhs, all it scotland is worse now than it was before she was in. and so all of this kind of i mean, i'm sorry, i feel like i'm bashing down the wound, but it really was a horrible sob story from a woman who had no sympathy no empathy and no care while she was leading. you know, she hurt a people, a lot of a lot of people, a lot of suffered in scotland, especially dunng suffered in scotland, especially during especially during lockdown, especially especially mental of the especially for the mental of the people there. she had no people living there. she had no empathy. and now she's saying, oh, don't want violence , but oh, i don't want violence, but i'm i mean, i found i'm only human. i mean, i found it a little bit nauseating. the

other point she made said, i believe there was a majority support for independence in scotland . that's that's a scotland. that's that's a barefaced democracy , isn't it? barefaced democracy, isn't it? don't we know, though, the latest polls shown that latest polls have shown that it's that could be one it's not and that could be one of the reasons why she's had to stand down. she did then she did go said the go back. she said the westminster anti—terror cratic decision, not to let her have. yeah i'm not the now let's just just in case. yeah we are a democratic country democracy was declared when they had the referendum. yes so. once in a generation election. and scotland did not want to be independent. end of. i just i independent. end of. ijust i just don't understand why the snp is still she actually called out a democrat outrage the blocking of a new referendum democratic outrage but it's not she quite rightly . it was once she quite rightly. it was once in a generation . right. we're in a generation. right. we're going to get some of the guests now. i'm going to speak to a political commentator and managing director of pr firm penta andy williams. good morning. your reaction penta andy williams. good m4the1g. your reaction penta andy williams. good m

handled that resignation speech ? yeah, well, obviously a huge surprise and nicola sturgeon's been the dominant figure in scottish politics pretty much the last decade. and one of the dominant figures in uk politics for very long time. so i think , for very long time. so i think, it marks a sea change both in uk politics and the independence debate . she acknowledged that debate. she acknowledged that she'd been a divisive and i think that's for sure i suppose i bet two points one as your guest pointed out, it's that she's actually not made a great deal of progress for the independence . the latest polling independence. the latest polling shows that 58% of people, i think, are against independence in. fact, many, many people say that the in scotland say that the scottish government's performance makes them less likely to vote and andy, i'm so sorry to interrupt . i'm so sorry to interrupt. i'm so sorry. it was very brief. we do believe that the nicola polley press conference is happening now. i'm very sorry andy. let's go that . i want to thank go live to that. i want to thank you for making the effort to

come here this morning so i could give you an update on our investigation to nicola and she and her family remain foremost in thoughts and our priorities . in thoughts and our priorities. the investigation so brought back in, i will say today , has back in, i will say today, has already been made public and it has been widely reported , but has been widely reported, but i'm acutely aware that there continues to be extensive media interest commentary, speculation andindeed interest commentary, speculation and indeed some criticism of our police investigation . i police investigation. i therefore to try and address some of that , we will take you some of that, we will take you through in some detail more than would normally be the case with an investigation. what we have done over the last 19 days and continues to do to remind us nicola went missing on the morning of friday, the 27th of january, and since time we have done an unprecedented amount of

work on the investigation to and find her the sole focus of that work is find nicola to bring it home to her family and give them the answers they so desperately need , the investigations need, the investigations involved a dedicated team of more than 40 detectives. they've been looking through hundreds of hours of cctv dashcam footage, speaking to numerous carrying out digital inquiries and examining literally hundreds of pieces of information submitted the public. and i would like to thank the public for all of their assistance throughout this investigation . there are also investigation. there are also dozens of other officers and staff who have helped in the investigation and searches and reassurance for the local in st michael's , we've involved michael's, we've involved a range of specialists , both range of specialists, both locally, regionally and

nationally to investigate and is not wanted at any stage for experts who are the best in their field available to law enforcement in. the uk , i would enforcement in. the uk, i would emphasise that it remains the case. there is no evidence to indicate a criminal aspect or third party involvement in nicola's disappear. ms. however, the officers involved in the investigation are the same experienced specialist and many senior officers who are concerned with the investigation of the most serious and complex thatis of the most serious and complex that is the import and focus we have given to investigation to find nicola to give you some figures to back up some of what i've described. we visited more than 300 premises spill almost 300 people and received around about 1500 pieces of information into the inquiry in terms the

physical searches , both water physical searches, both water based and on land, we've used specialist resources from both police, a range of other agencies, and i'm grateful to those other agencies who supported us. and in estimates that included the north west underwater search units , police underwater search units, police dogs and the police helicopter , dogs and the police helicopter, we continue search . the we continue search. the surrounding area down and out into the sea , towards the into the sea, towards the estuary . we've consulted with estuary. we've consulted with national experts in the field, including environmental on tidal . and we're carrying out an extensive have carried out an extensive have carried out an extensive land search surrounding the river including some properties the area slides been made available for you to see we're showing some detail exactly where searched but it's

impossible it's important to say that our activity has at every been directed by expert trained police search advisers who we turn pulses and they've been following nationally recognised doctrine around search custody which will be followed by any expert police search advisor in uk policing . the lead police uk policing. the lead police search advisor is here and at the conclusion of the press conference, if you have any specific questions and i want to on the basis to the officer to . on the basis to the officer to. the so it remains the case of at the present time that there is no evidence in all the exhaustive inquiries we've made that suggests any crime has been committed or that there is any third party involvement in nicholas disappear. hence it is a plus for me to stress that the investigation continues and going and we are meticulously reviewing all information gathered from those gathered from members of nicola's the pubuc

from members of nicola's the public cctv dashcam and other digital devices to name just a few . we also and you. so you're few. we also and you. so you're listening there to peter lawson, the assistant chief constable from lancashire police , from lancashire police, obviously conducting a press conference at the first press conference at the first press conference since , nicola polly conference since, nicola polly went missing in lancashire on friday, the 27th of january. the connection wasn't great, i'm afraid so. we've come out of that. mike parry, i know you've been following this very closely . i was really hoping we were going some leads, at going to get some leads, at least from this press conference. i can't stand it they've thrown a press conference . give us no evidence conference. give us no evidence to indicate third party criminal involvement . it's a to indicate third party criminal involvement. it's a missing persons inquiry. how can you possibly rule that out? i have no faith in this police force. and i'll tell why. three major clues have been discovered by newspaper . they the red van that newspaper. they the red van that was spotted near the place . two

was spotted near the place. two fishermen was sighted on the banks of the river. and the morning on the front page of a newspaper . a ski glove was said newspaper. a ski glove was said to have been found in field near to have been found in field near to where nicola went missing . to where nicola went missing. neighbour, who said that she had the car keys in her pocket. nobody has found the car keys. that's right why that just felt a little bit like that press conference. they were covering themselves right from the start. they going about they were going on about the bull going river and then bull going in the river and then i think it was a saying neighbour might have. neighbour or it might have. a friend said she never took the ball any more because it made the too all way along. the dog too all the way along. they earlier i saw they failed earlier i saw a press conference. no earlier there was a police expert who said wasn't important to rope said it wasn't important to rope off the area where she went missing or to take away the bench , give it forensic bench, give it forensic examination . and i said, but examination. and i said, but there could have been a in the ground near the bench and the bench might have contained the dna of a person sitting on a bench. why are you telling me it was important not to investigate

those ? and the answer from the those? and the answer from the police was, well , that would police was, well, that would have officers off the job have taken officers off the job of looking out for cctv . thank of looking out for cctv. thank you, mike tom harwood. it's been a very busy couple of hours , no a very busy couple of hours, no doubt gb news will continue to look at what was said in the remainder of that press conference and also to assess just sum up, if you will, for those are joining us. nicholas sturgeon that was a shock. she's going. she's going she's eight years in the job. she's been the longest serving marginally first minister of scotland since that devolved administration came into being in 1999. she says that she has sort of been running of energy, that she wants to go at a time of her choosing, that she hasn't been pushed. but clearly the context around this is something that we should not ignore . the scandals should not ignore. the scandals that have been going on within the public service failures as well . that's unavoidable looking well. that's unavoidable looking at those polls for independence crashing in recent weeks. thank

you, tom. no doubt you'll be sticking around on gb news the remainder of the day. tonia buxton thank you, mike parry. thank you. thank for all of your messages. i barely got through them . lots more to come on gp them. lots more to come on gp news today. here is the news with . bethany . five, thank you. with. bethany. five, thank you. and a very morning to you. it's just gone midday on bethany elsey with your top stories from the gb newsroom and some breaking news, nicholas sturgeon has resigned as first minister of scotland after eight years in power . speaking at an urgent power. speaking at an urgent press conference at beach house in edinburgh, mr. said she was proud to have served as the first female and longest serving first female and longest serving first minister of scotland . ms. first minister of scotland. ms. sturgeon acknowledged that the move might seem sudden , but move might seem sudden, but denied it was due to short pressures and said she's been wrestling with it for some weeks . to those who do feel shocked ,

. to those who do feel shocked, disappointed