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Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation, saying the job “takes its toll on you and all around you”.

The SNP leader made the the shock announcement during a press conference in Edinburgh at her official residence, Bute House.

She said it had been “the very best job in the world” and one that has “sustained and inspired me in good times and in the toughest hours of my toughest days”.

But Ms Sturgeon said she believed part of “serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right” to step down, adding: “In my head and in my heart I know that time is now, that it is right for me and my party and for the country.”

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The longest serving and first woman first minister insisted her decision was not down to “short term pressures”, such as the ongoing divisions in her party about transgender rights, but something she had been considering over weeks.

She said instead her exit “frees the SNP to choose the path it believes to be the right one” when it comes to campaigning for Scottish independence “without worrying about the perceived implications for my leadership” ahead of a special conference next month.

And Ms Sturgeon said was a personal decision too, saying: “I am not expecting violins here, but I am a human being as well as a politician.

“Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less.

“But in truth that can only be done by anyone for so long. For me, it is now in danger of becoming too long.

She added: “To those who do feel shocked or disappointed, or perhaps even a bit angry with me, please… be in no doubt that this is really hard for me.

“My decision comes from a place of duty and of love. Tough love, perhaps, but love nevertheless for my party and above all for the country.”

The first minister confirmed she would stay in post until somebody else takes over and remain as an MSP until at least the next Holyrood election.

She said the SNP would announce the process for electing a new leader over the coming days, but refused to say who her preferred candidate would be.

Members of her party have begun paying tribute to her time in office, with SNP president Michael Russell thanking her for her “extraordinary and brilliant leadership of her party and country”.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss said she was “absolutely gutted” about the news, adding: “Nicola has been an incredible leader.”

Fellow MP Stewart McDonald, called Ms Sturgeon “the finest public servant of the devolution age” and said it would be “an enormous loss” to the country and party.

And another SNP MP, Kirsten Oswald, described her as “outstanding”, adding: “We’ve been so fortunate to have someone with her talents at the helm. I am so sorry she is standing down.”

Ms Sturgeon has led the party and the country since 2014 after taking over from her predecessor, Alex Salmond, making her the longest serving first minister since devolution to Holyrood.

But she has been involved in the SNP all her adult life, joining the party at the age of 16.

As first minister, she has secured election successes at every poll and continued to push for Scottish independence, campaigning for a second referendum on the decision.

That, along with her strong anti-Brexit stance, has left her at loggerheads with the UK government, led by the Conservatives, who back keeping the UK together and have refused to offer up another vote on independence.

A senior Labour source said her decision showed it was “all over” for the independence campaign, and showed “after 15 years of failure, the SNP have run out of road”.

There have been a number of tricky issues for Ms Sturgeon in recent months, including splits in the party over her approach to transgender rights, and over her bill on gender recognition.

Despite passing the legislation in Holyrood – which would have meant people could legally change their gender in Scotland without a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria – the bill was then blocked by Westminster, with ministers claiming it would have a “significant impact” on equalities.

Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen said Ms Sturgeon’s popularity “had taken an unusual knock in recent months in polls, for the first time since she became first minister” but the news still came as a surprise.

There has also been change at the top of the SNP in Westminster in recent months, with Sturgeon ally Ian Blackford being replaced as leader in December by Stephen Flynn.

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‘Multi-hazard storm’ to hit on New Year’s Day with snow, wind and rain warnings in place

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'Multi-hazard storm' to hit on New Year's Day with snow, wind and rain warnings in place

Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day. 

The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.

Pic: Met Office
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Pic: Met Office

The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.

The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.

The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.

The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.

Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.

Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.

There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.

The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.

The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.

Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.

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Seven people arrested after 18-year-old stabbed to death

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Seven people arrested after 18-year-old stabbed to death

Six teenagers and a 52-year-old man have been arrested after an 18-year-old was stabbed to death in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Four 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two girls aged 15 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, as has a man, 52.

Police were called to reports a man had been stabbed on Rose Avenue on Saturday evening.

They found the victim on nearby Heanor Road with a stab wound but despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene just before 9pm.

“The investigation is very much in its early stages and we are urging anyone with information that may assist with our inquiries to contact us as a matter of urgency,” said Detective Chief Inspector Claudia Musson.

The teenager’s family have been made aware and are being assisted by specially trained officers.

The murder probe is being led by the East Midlands special operations unit.

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Police are particularly keen to hear from people with CCTV or doorbell footage and any dashcam footage between the times of 7pm and 9pm in the areas of Heanor Road, Rose Avenue, Summerfields Way, Kedleston Drive and Peveril Drive.

Anyone with any information has been asked to contact Derbyshire Police quoting incident number 940 of December 28.

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Meet the last man standing on UK’s loneliest housing estate

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Meet the last man standing on UK's loneliest housing estate

A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.

Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.

The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.

The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.

Nick Wisniewski says he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out of his home
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Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home

Rubble where homes once stood
Image:
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood

‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’

The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.

He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.

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Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”

Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”

He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.

A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.

The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.

The local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore
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There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate


Rubble where homes once stood

He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.

“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.

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“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”

There used to be almost 1000 properties on the estate

North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.

A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”

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