Nicola Sturgeon addressed the Scottish Parliament for the final time on March 20, 2026, after 27 years as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). The former first minister, who led Scotland from 2014 to 2023, described leaving Holyrood as a difficult but timely decision.
Sturgeon’s Political Career and Legacy
Sturgeon was first elected to the newly devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999 and served as first minister for eight-and-a-half years, including throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. She succeeded Alex Salmond as first minister after the SNP’s defeat in the 2014 independence referendum and led the party to a landslide victory in the 2015 UK general election, winning 56 of 59 Scottish seats at Westminster.
Her tenure was also marked by a public falling out with Salmond linked to sexual harassment allegations against him, which led to a high-profile feud. Despite controversies, including a 2023 Police Scotland fraud inquiry related to SNP campaign funds, Sturgeon was later cleared of wrongdoing. Her former husband, Peter Murrell, the SNP’s chief executive, faces embezzlement charges and is due in court in May 2026.
Farewell Advice to MSPs
In an emotional valedictory address, Sturgeon urged MSPs to avoid tribalism and encouraged cross-party friendships. “Opponents need not be enemies,” she said. She called on politicians to maintain perspective, warning that if everything is treated as a scandal or outrage, accountability can be undermined.
Sturgeon also advised lawmakers not to live life on social media despite her own large online following. “Use it, but never forget there is a real world out there and it is the people in it you are here to serve,” she said. She closed by emphasizing the privilege of serving in parliament and acknowledged the profound personal significance of her 27 years in Scottish politics.
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