Nicola Sturgeon news – live: Trump says ‘good riddance’ to ‘extremist’ SNP leader

Former US president attacked Sturgeon’s support for transgender rights

Nicola Sturgeon: Ian Blackford 'saddened' to see 'outstanding' leader resign as First Minister

Former president Donald Trump blasted Nicola Sturgeon as the Scottish First Minister announced she would resign, in a transphobic rant that cited his properties in the country.

Mr Trump made the remarks after Ms Sturgeon announced that she would resign as the head of Scotland’s government on Wednesday.

“Good riddance to failed woke extremist Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland!” Mr Trump said in a statement. “This crazed leftist symbolizes everything wrong with identity politics.”

Specifically, Mr Trump cited her support for transgender rights.

“Sturgeon thought it was OK to put a biological man in a women’s prison, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Sturgeon fought for a ‘Gender Recognition Reform Bill’ that would have allowed 16-year-old children to change their gender without medical advice,” Mr Trump said.

Meanwhile, the SNP’s national executive committee is meeting online at 6.30pm on Thursday to discuss the timing for a leadership contest.

Though there is no obvious candidate to succeed the outgoing first minister, potential candidates include: External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson; Finance Secretary Kate Forbes; Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

Key Points

• Trump blasts Nicola Sturgeon as ‘failed woke extremist’ in furious rant after Scottish leader steps down
• Search begins for new SNP leader as evangelical Christian narrowly leads race for top job
• Scotland’s Jacinda Ardern? Cabinet secretary Kate Forbes leads race to replace Nicola Sturgeon
• Nicola Sturgeon dodges question on ‘missing’ £600,000 campaign funds

[16 February 2023 10:43 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

SNP president predicts ‘contested’ election to find Nicola Sturgeon’s successor

The race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister will be a “contested” election, the SNP’s president has said, as the party puts into motion the steps to find a new leader.

Ms Sturgeon shocked Holyrood on Wednesday after she told a hastily arranged press conference she was to quit, but she insisted she was not reacting to “short-term pressures” after a series of political setbacks.

“In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it’s right for me, for my party and my country,” she said at Bute House, her official residence, on Wednesday.

The SNP, which she has led for eight years, is now in the process of selecting her successor and its national executive committee will meet soon to discuss a timetable for the leadership election.

But Michael Russell, the party’s president, said he expected that process to be “shortened” and there to be a “contested election”.

[16 February 2023 10:38 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Welcome to our politics live blog where we will keep you updated on the latest as Scotland searches for a new first minister.