Nicola Sturgeon says she has “confidence” in whoever takes her place at the top of the SNP, saying the candidate will “lead this country into becoming an independent country”.

Speaking at her final first minister’s questions in Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon defended her and her party’s record in government against fierce criticism from both the Conservatives and Labour.

And while she said her successor would have “a tough job” ahead of them, she said she believed they would “build on [her] record and continue to maintain the trust of Scottish people”.

Politics live: Johnson support among Tory MPs ‘diminishing’

After being questioned by MSPs for 45 ministers in what was her 286th outing at FMQs, Ms Sturgeon then began her final speech in parliament as leader, saying: “No matter what I do in future, nothing, absolutely nothing will come close to the experience of the past 3,046 days.

“Being first minister of the country I love has been a profound honour.”

Marking the three year anniversary since the first COVID lockdown was introduced across the UK – something she said “defined” her time in office – Ms Sturgeon reflected on how she had led Scotland “through good times but also through the toughest period of our recent history”.

Nicola Sturgeon fights back tears as she issues ‘heartfelt’ apology over forced adoptions

Sturgeon says leadership contest has been ‘less than edifying’ and urges candidates to ‘protect ingredients of success’

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell: The downfall of SNP power couple in less than 150 days

She added: “My thoughts today and always are with those who lost loved ones to COVID, with those who live still with long COVID, with our young people who lost out on so many of the experiences of growing up and with everyone who endured the trauma of separation and loneliness.”

But while the outgoing leader said the job had “variously, often all at once, [been] challenging, exhilarating and exhausting… every single day without exception, it has been an utter privilege”.

Ms Sturgeon announced last month that she would be stepping down as Scotland’s first minister and the leader of the SNP after more than eight years, saying the job “takes its toll on you and all around you”.

The surprise decision trigged a leadership election in her party, with finance minister Kate Forbes, health minister Humza Yousaf and ex-minister Ash Regan battling it out for the top spot.

The contest has been fiery at times, with even Ms Sturgeon describing it to Sky News’ Beth Rigby as “a less than edifying process”.

Voting closes at midday on Monday, with the party expected to announce the winner later that day.

Related posts:

Johnson told to give up power to decide on investigating ministers after Greensill affair ‘A very significant problem’: Fears that patient backlog in some hospitals may last for years Independence and interdependence | Nicola Sturgeon & John Kerry World’s first clinical trial on COVID booster vaccines launched in UK PM and Raab continue scramble for international response to Afghanistan crisis Ex-Labour MP ordered to appear in court over alleged expenses fraud PM ‘committed’ to National Insurance tax hike despite calls to scrap move PM had birthday party during first national lockdown, report claims MP’s claim she was sacked as a minister due to her Muslim faith ‘disturbing’, says Tory peer Rayner was present at Starmer lockdown beers, Labour confirm Hunt announces new economic council to provide ministers ‘expert advice’ Sturgeon accuses gender reform opponents of using women’s rights as ‘cloak of acceptability’ for transphobia