Sturgeon rubbishes talk of resignation
THE steps outside Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall were left covered in “blood” after reports of an accident.
Comedian Limmy shared a photo of the worrying scene on the Buchanan Street steps.
He tweeted: “Something happened outside the Royal
NConcert Hall, don’t know what. But that’s a lot of blood.
The Scots comedian later added on the social media platform: “I saw the ambulance leave when I got here.”
The Royal Concert Hall confirmed that there had been an incident, but no further information has been given on the nature of it.
ICOLA Sturgeon has said she has no “imminent” plans to step down as First Minister and SNP leader.
Speculation over how long Sturgeon will stay in post has grown since two senior party figures announced plans to contest a key SNP target seat at Holyrood.
Angus Robertson – former Moray MP, former deputy leader and former SNP Westminster leader – said he wanted to be considered as candidate for Edinburgh Central, the seat currently held by Ruth Davidson, former Scottish Conservative leader, who is to step down next year.
Joanna Cherry, currently an Edinburgh MP, said she would also like to go for the seat next year – and stand down from Westminster if she won.
It has been speculated the moves are because both are keen to get to Holyrood in preparation of a leadership contest should Sturgeon’s position become vacant.
As a former deputy to Sturgeon, Robertson would likely be seen as a continuity candidate if and when the First Minister decided to quit.
Cherry has advocated a “consultative” independence referendum as some members are frustrated by Sturgeon’s policy of pursuing agreement from Westminster.
The First Minister, however, said she plans to lead the SNP into the Scottish election in May 2021 and beyond – and has re-stated her position on the route to a second independence referendum
She said: “All leaders should reflect on an ongoing basis. For me, two conditions are needed for me to stay as leader – and I do intend to lead my party into the next Scottish Parliament election.
“You have to have the support not just of party but of country. I would say, humbly, that I’ve just led my party to another landslide election victory, winning 80% of the seats. “But secondly, I have to be sure that I want to do this job, think I’m the best person to do this job, have the drive and energy and that’s emphatically the case. “When either of these things cease to be the case then that’ll be the time for me to move on and do these other things that I’m keen to do in my lifetime.
“That is not now and imminent.” it is not
On the likelihood of a second referendum, Sturgeon again said that any route to independence had to be legal and that the UK Government position was not sustainable.
She said: “I appreciate that some people are impatient for independence – I’m impatient for independence.
“But what’s most important of all is that we have a referendum that’s legal, legitimate and can actually deliver independence.”
She said she was still working towards holding a legal referendum this year.
Sturgeon added: “As a leader, there’s a responsibility to be frank with people and sometimes the hardest thing to do is to be frank with your own supporters. I want a referendum that is not just a gesture that allows us to make a point, but a referendum that can deliver us independence.”