Responding to Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement of her intention to resign as leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, Martin Whitfield MSP said: 

“On a personal level, I have never doubted Nicola Sturgeon’s dedication to her job and to Scotland and I wish her well with whatever she does in the future.

“However, I do believe her record as First Minister leaves a lot to be desired. She has failed to meet her own targets in key policy areas, including education, the NHS, child poverty and drug deaths. Just as importantly, she has done nothing to reverse the divisions that opened up in 2014.

“As she leaves, we need to turn the page and focus on what unites us and how we can work together to deliver the change Scotland needs.”