YEAR FROM HELL
Nicola Sturgeon shocked the country when she announced she was quitting as Scotland’s first minister on February 15, 2023. Here is how the year went for the SNP following her resignation
FEBRUARY 2023 Nicola Sturgeon resigns: A month prior to her shock resignation, Scotland’s longest serving first minister says she has “plenty left in the tank” as leader. But she quits after more than eight years in the job, on February 15.
Three MSPs come forward to succeed her: then health secretary Humza Yousaf; then finance secretary Kate Forbes and former minister Ash Regan , who had quit the Government in opposition to gender law reform plans.
Significant divisions emerge with the two front runners, Yousaf and Forbes, both taking aim at the other’s record in government and social views.
MARCH Peter Murrell: The SNP’s then chief executive, who is married to Sturgeon, resigns after providing the party’s head of comms, Murray Foote, with false SNP membership figures.
Yousaf becomes First Minister: He takes 52 per cent of the vote in the second round to Forbes’ 48 per cent, with Regan coming third.
APRIL Operation Branchform: Just days after Yousaf takes office, Murrell is arrested in connection with a probe into the SNP’s finances. Officers erect a forensic tent outside the home he shares with Sturgeon, with the house and garden searched.
Murrell is questioned for almost 12 hours before being released without charge pending further investigation.
The party’s Edinburgh HQ is also searched and a motorhome seized from the Fife home of Murrell’s 92-year-old mother.
Former party treasurer Colin Beattie is later arrested and released without charge.
On the same day as Beattie’s arrest, Yousaf delivers his first major speech as First Minister, announcing his vision for government.
MAY Child poverty: Scotland’s then children’s commissioner, Bruce Adamson, says Sturgeon’s government “absolutely failed” to reduce child poverty. During her resignation, Sturgeon said supporting young people was a proud moment in her career.
AUGUST Memoir: Sturgeon confirms she is writing a “deeply personal” book on her rise from working class Ayrshire family to Scotland’s leader.
OCTOBER Time Magazine: Yousaf features on the cover as a “trailblazer”. Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election:
Labour’s Michael Shanks wins by more than double the votes of his SNP opponent Katy Loudon.
Yousaf says his party must “reflect” on regaining the trust of voters.
Defections: The former SNP MP Lisa Cameron quits the party she describes as “toxic” to cross over to the Tories. Later Ash Regan leaves to become the Alba Party’s first MSP and Holyrood leader.
SNP conference: Yousaf makes his first address as leader, confirming the party’s shift away from a “de facto referendum” on to the Westminster election strategy of winning a majority of seats.
Yousaf denies his conference speech is overshadowed by the presence of Sturgeon.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry: An inquiry lawyer says the “majority” of informal messages have not been retained by the Scottish Government, with ministers pledging to hand over more than 14,000 WhatsApps to the investigation.
DECEMBER Gender reforms: The Court of Session upholds the UK Government’s decision to block the Gender Recognition Bill – a policy introduced by Sturgeon.
JANUARY 2024 Covid inquiry: An emotional Sturgeon gives tearful evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry’s Edinburgh hearingand speaks of regrets. She admits deleting WhatsApp messages but insists it is in line with Scottish Government guidance and all salient points were added to the official record.