Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon served as Scotland's first minister from November 2014 until March 2023 and led the Scottish National Party over the same period. She entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999, represented Glasgow Southside from 2011 and left Holyrood in April 2026. Earlier ministerial posts included health secretary and deputy first minister.

As first minister, Sturgeon pursued a second independence referendum after the 2014 vote. In June 2022 she proposed treating a UK general election as a de facto referendum if the Scottish Parliament could not legislate for another vote. The plan was not used at the 2024 general election after her resignation. Her 27 years in the Scottish Parliament covered every session from devolution through the 2026 election.