Good afternoon. Can I thank you all for coming.
I am not willing to trade my values and principles.
Order deals with whomever simply for retaining power.
Therefore, after spending the weekend reflecting on what is based
for my party,
for the government and for the country I lead,
I've concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide
can only be done with someone else at the helm.
I have therefore informed the SNPs,
National Secretary of my intention.
To stand down as party leader and asked that she
commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as
possible am an absolute date.
Through my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider
family for putting up with me over the years,
I'm afraid you'll be seeing a lot more of me
from now.
You are truly everything to me.
And although of course, as you can tell,
I'm sad that my time is First Minister is ending,
but I am so grateful,
I'm so blessed for having the opportunity that afforded to
so few to lead my country.
And who could ask for a better country to lead
than Scotland?
Thank you very much.
First Minister.
Have you let the party in a worse state than
you found it?