Scottish politics has been rocked to its core, after the news of the first minister’s resignation leaked out ahead of a hastily arranged press conference.

Nicola Sturgeon’s influence as the SNP’s leader cannot be overstated, spending almost a decade at the top that saw her party dominate north of the border.

During that time she has constantly threatened Westminster with the breakup of the union and has never ceased to drive towards a second Scottish independence referendum.

Her style has been combative, especially when it came to taking on the Conservative government – she described Boris Johnson as “possibly the worst prime minister of our lifetime”.

Bold prediction from Labour frontbencher after Sturgeon announces shock departure | Politics latest

There will be a lot of speculation about the political reasons behind Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation – was it the stand-off with Westminster over trans rights or maybe a lack of support within the party over her de facto referendum plan?

But today she starkly described the personal reasons at the heart of her departure.

‘In my head and in my heart, I know the time is now’ – Nicola Sturgeon announces resignation as Scotland’s first minister

Politics news – latest: Bold prediction from Labour frontbencher after Nicola Sturgeon announces shock departure

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In a candid insight she painted a picture of the almost unbearable pressure of being a political leader.

She described the impossibility of living a normal life, being unable she said to just go “for a coffee with friends” or a “walk on your own”.

Life at the top, she continued, was “intense”, “brutal” and has taken a toll both physically and mentally.

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