MSP’s have voted that Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP should become the First Minister of Scotland.
Sturgeon faced competition for the role from opposition leaders including Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
64 MSP’s voted for Sturgeon’s candidacy compared to 4 MSP’s for Rennie, and 31 MSP’s for Ross. 28 MSP’s abstained
Before voting started , each candidate gave a small statement outlining why they thought they would be best for the role.
Rennie, who previously stood for the job in 2016, announced his candidacy with “a liberal dose of realism” but said,
“Most people didn’t vote for the largest party so it’s important their voices are heard today”.
Rennie continued that he would “put recovery first” and halt any constitutional arguments because “This country is divided like never before, right down the middle.”
Ross who received 31 votes, was also conservative about his chances stating,
“I know there is literally more chance of one of my cows fulfilling the nursery rhyme of jumping over the moon than there is of me winning this vote today, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.”
Ross continued that “”Under the SNP, the spirit of enterprise has been stifled” and that the Scottish Conservatives leader standing for the role was “a marker of ambition not only for our party, but for Scotland.”
Sturgeon who was voted as First Minister by the parliament in 2016 said that being First Minister of Scotland is “”an immense privilege, but also an enormous responsibility and an enormous duty”
Adding that if re-elected she would begin work on a recovery which has “with the NHS, the economy and jobs at it s heart”
Sturgeon closed her statement by saying “I am ready to get on with the job of leading this country to brighter and better times.”
Feature image Credit: Nicola Sturgeon
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