It has been just over a week since Nicola Sturgeon announced her plans to step down as the leader of the SNP and as First Minister of Scotland. Her resignation sent shockwaves around the world and just last month she had said that there was still “plenty left in the tank” when it came to her efforts of leading the country.

Since then, a lot of questions have been raised as to who will replace Nicola Sturgeon after 8 years in office, and what does this mean for Scotland in the short and long term.

It was after the SNP’s unsuccessful referendum campaign in 2014 that Nicola Sturgeon took charge when her predecessor Alex Salmond resigned following the result. Nicola Sturgeon became the first woman to hold the title of First Minister and was the first female leader of the SNP.

In 2016, after Scotland voted almost unanimously to stay in the EU but were still hauled out of the EU along with the rest of the UK, Sturgeon announced plans for a second referendum, which did not materialise.

In June of 2022 Sturgeon made a huge move towards independence by asking then Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a section 30 order which would’ve allowed Scotland to hold the vote. Johnson refused outright and denied Scotland the request. After the request was denied, Sturgeon then said that the SNP would hold the vote with or without the permission of the UK government.

In November of 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish government could not hold a referendum without the approval of the UK government. No matter the result, it would hold no political meaning. The ruling of the court accompanied with the majority rule of the conservatives in parliament left Scotland’s grounds for independence very weak.

With Sturgeon’s resignation, many feel that any progress she had made while in office in the search for independence is all but lost. Although critics claim that there has been little progress in her eight year tenure.

The change means fresh leadership will come in and is a chance to provide new ideas and work with new strategies. The SNP have to galvanise the country if they want any chance of independence in the near future.

Humza Yousaf, Ash Regan and Kate Forbes have been highlighted as the front runners for the job. No matter who it is, it feels like a vital moment in Scotland’s quest for independence.

What does Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation mean for Scottish independence?