Sturgeon - 'I Will Come Out Of Virus Crisis With A Much Lower Tolerance For Some Of The Crap Of Politics'

Nicola Sturgeon has addressed speculation about her political future by saying every First Minister has a “shelf life”.

- Paul Hutcheon

In an interview, she said that whenever she stops being a leader, she will be young enough to go “in a different direction”.

She also said her key role in dealing with coronavirus has made her feel differently about turning 50 this month.

Sturgeon has been First Minister for more than five years, after succeeding Alex Salmond.

Her biggest challenge has been leading the Scottish Government’s response to Covid-19, which has taken the lives of thousands of people north of the Border.

Speaking to Holyrood magazine, she tackled long-standing rumors about when she would stand down.

Sturgeon said: “You can always create speculation if you decide to speculate but it’s not anything I’m saying or doing that feeds that.

“But, you know, I suppose one of the nice things about having been First Minister for five-and-a-half years by the time I turn 50 is that, while I’m not planning for it to be imminent, whenever I do stop being First Minister – because every First Minister has a shelf life – I will still be young enough, and hopefully healthy enough, to go in a different direction and do other things.

“I find that is something that is quite uplifting.”