Nicola Sturgeon has hailed the Daily Record's Our Kids, Our Future campaign as she vows to commit to tackling youth violence in Scotland.
16.02.2023 - 07:41 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Scotland's top polling expert has said the future success of the independence campaign will depend on who the SNP chooses as its next leader.
Professor John Curtice told the Record there were "obvious downsides" for Yes campaigners as a result of Nicola Sturgeon's dramatic resignation yesterday.
The Strathclyde University academic, who is a regular analyst on BBC political shows, said it was not obvious the Nationalists had a replacement who could match the communication skills of the out-going First Minister.
Sturgeon became leader of the SNP in the wake of the 2014 referendum on independence which saw the pro-UK side win by 55%-45%.
Support for ending the Union has regularly hovered around the 50 per cent mark in the years since.
The First Minister's plan to stage an IndyRef2 in October this year was struck down by the Supreme Court last November after it ruled Holyrood did not have the required legal powers.
The independence campaign initially saw a rise in support as a result of that decision - but one poll last weekend saw it drop to 44 per cent.
Asked about the impact of Sturgeon's exit on the independence campaign, Curtice said: "All we can realistically say at the moment is that the balls have all of a sudden been thrown into the air, and we don't know how they will land.
"What we can also say is, yes, there are some obvious downsides for the SNP and the independence movement.
"At the moment, there isn't an obvious successor, and there isn't an obvious successor who has demonstrated an ability to communicate with the public and advocate the case for independence as effectively as Sturgeon.
"Therefore there is a risk.
"The SNP leadership battle will also presumably, depending who emerges, become a debate about the party's
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Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as first minister.The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) made the announcement during a last-minute news conference at Bute House in Edinburgh at 11am GMT yesterday (February 15).Speaking to the press, Sturgeon said it had been a “privilege” to serve as Scotland’s first minister for the past eight years, calling it “the very best job in the world”.She explained that her decision to step down was “not a reaction to short term pressures” but came from “a deeper and longer-term assessment”.Sturgeon is the longest-serving first minister, and the only female to have occupied the role.Writing on Twitter, Mogwai‘s Stuart Braithwaite said he was “devastated” over Sturgeon’s resignation. “It felt wonderful to feel genuinely proud of the person leading our country,” he continued.“I wish her all the best for the future and thank her for her everything she has done for Scotland.”Really devastated about @NicolaSturgeon resigning.
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