Sturgeon: 'No talk of succession' says SNP MP John Nicolson

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SNP MP John Nicolson hopes that Nicola Sturgeon will “fight the next election” and continue as Scotland’s First Minister. But Mr Nicolson admitted that it’s “human nature” for other MPs to secretly wish they can succeed her as leader in case she steps down. For Mr Nicolson, the Scottish First Minister is an “enormous asset” who stands out above any potential successor looking to follow in her footsteps.

Asked by host Jo Coburn if Ms Sturgeon will fight another election, Mr Nicolson replied: “I don’t know. I’ve heard absolutely nothing.”

He told BBC Politics Live: “First of all she just won a stonking great victory in May.

“But I am sure MP’s talked to their pals on the phone and say: ‘I would like to be the Leader!’

“I am not part of these conversations but it’s human nature that sometimes people do.

“But I think she will fight the next election and I hope that she does.

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“I’ve not had a single conversation with any other MP about a successor.”

Mr Nicolson, a former journalist and broadcaster himself, added that no conversations about potential candidates to take over are doing the rounds.

He said: “I remember when I used to do your job and sometimes MP’s said that, I knew it wasn’t true because I knew there was talk of succession and in this case I can assure you it’s not happening.

“I have heard absolutely nothing. But I’d like her [to fight another election] because she is an enormous asset, she is head and shoulders above her competition.

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“And people like her in Scotland. I am not surprised, I think she’s great.’

After the successful elections in May she laid emphasis on helping get Scotland through the Covid crisis and recover from it.

In her 100-day plan she also prioritised protecting jobs, supporting children and young people.

Her drive for Scottish independence is well-documented but a recent poll by Politico show that 47 percent of Scottish people would like Scotland remaining in the UK while 44 percent think it’s time to move on.

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Scotland’s leader vowed she will renew her push for an independence referendum by the end of 2023, in a bid to end the 314-year association between England and Scotland.

She said: “In the course of next year, I will initiate the process necessary to enable a referendum before the end of 2023.

“And just as importantly, our party will set out afresh the positive case for independence.”

If in 2016, 52 percent of UK voters opted to leave the UK, 62% of Scots were in favour of remaining and Sturgeon has always stated that Scotland had been forced out of the EU against its will.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is against the idea of Scotland becoming an independent country and leaving the UK and has repeatedly rebuffed SNP calls for an independence referendum.

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