Falkirk leader says Nicola Sturgeon 'led us through darkest days in modern Scotland’s history'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The leader of Falkirk Council has paid tribute to the "incredible achievements" of Scotland's longest-serving First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned earlier today (Wednesday).

In the wake of the news, SNP Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn has also called for all parties to take the opportunity to try to "de-polarise public debate" and pledged that, as leader of Falkirk Council and the SNP locally she would seek to "reach out across the divide".

In her resignation speech, Ms Sturgeon said while being First Minister had been the "privilege of my life" she had come to feel that the time was right for her to step down from a job where you are "never off duty" and where there is "virtually no privacy". READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon resignation: Five key moments from the press conference that stunned Scottish politics "All in all – and for a long time without it being apparent – it takes its toll, on you and on those around you," she said.She also made clear that one of the factors behind her decision was the fact that she feels a new leader must be someone who "can reach across the divide" in a debate that has become increasingly polarised.She said: "I feel more and more each day that the fixed opinions people increasingly have about me – as I say, some fair, others little more than caricature – are being used as barriers to reasoned debate."Following the First Minister's press conference at Bute House, Cllr Meiklejohn said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s dedication to her role, first and foremost, as a representative of communities, and as First Minister of Scotland has been clear for all to see."She has served Scotland with true passion and commitment throughout her career.