‘It is significant Scotland’s highest-profile politician is a woman’

TO become Scotland’s longestserving First Minister is a considerable achievement. Since taking up her role in the wake of the 2014 independence referendum, the First Minister has been leading Scotland through the turbulent times that we live in, including Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

It is significant that Scotland’s highest-profile political figure is a woman – there are relatively few world leaders who aren’t men.

We’ve grown used to seeing group photos of the attendees at international meetings which are overwhelmingly rows of men, usually in dark grey suits.

It is always excellent to see women succeeding in leadership positions. We’ve all seen, in the last few years, how much leadership style matters.

How much it matters that leaders are seen to have integrity, how much it matters that leaders don’t shy away from hard work, and how much it matters to have a Scottish national leader who can garner the respect of their international colleagues.

It makes me feel proud that, whatever the policy differences between our parties, Scotland has a leader who embodies these qualities.

I have been impressed with the First Minister’s willingness to engage in negotiation and consensus building in Government. We can agree to disagree, and still work responsibly on areas where we share common ground.

This is the basis of doing politics differently and of building a better future.

In that spirit, I would like to thank the First Minister for her service to date, congratulate her on her upcoming milestone, and look forward to continuing our constructive relationship in the years to come as we work to deliver on the Bute House Agreement that we signed last year.