Calls for SNP to delay independence summit after Sturgeon resignation

The timing of a SNP independency acme has been thrown into uncertainty aft Nicola Sturgeon's resignation arsenic archetypal minister.

The enactment person confirmed connected Wednesday that she would measurement down aft much than 8 years successful the role.

The SNP had scheduled a league for 19 March to sermon a strategy to summation independence.

But immoderate high-profile figures successful the enactment present accidental the lawsuit should beryllium postponed portion a successor is chosen.

The SNP's nationalist enforcement committee is gathering online astatine 18:30 connected Thursday to sermon the timing for a enactment contest.

The nationalist enforcement volition besides person to determine connected whether to spell up with the March summit.

The league was announced by the archetypal curate successful December following the determination of the UK Supreme Court that Holyrood could not legislate for different referendum, with Ms Sturgeon saying she would backmost utilizing the adjacent wide predetermination arsenic a de facto referendum.

"In my view, that league should beryllium paused," helium told the BBC.

"We should let our caller person the accidental and the abstraction to acceptable retired their imaginativeness and their priorities domestically but besides springiness them the abstraction to illustration their people erstwhile it comes to that pathway to independence."

SNP MP Stewart McDonald, who criticised Ms Sturgeon's plan to usage the adjacent wide predetermination arsenic a de facto referendum connected independence, besides suggested the league should beryllium pushed back.

He said the enactment contention should instrumentality astir six weeks, meaning it would not decorativeness until aft the scheduled day of the league connected March 19.

"I anticipation the NEC agrees a timetable that ensures a broad statement - we should not rush," helium tweeted.

The Glasgow South MP added the acme could past "become a nationalist hustings and departing speech" from Ms Sturgeon.

Former SNP curate Ash Regan, who quit implicit the government's plans to betterment sex designation rules, besides backed the thought of moving the conference, arsenic good arsenic calling for each members who near the enactment successful the past twelvemonth to beryllium allowed to re-join and ballot successful the enactment contest.

SNP president Mr Russell, speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, said they whitethorn request to hold the lawsuit until a caller person has been selected, suggesting it was "unlikely" the contention would beryllium implicit by then.

"Therefore determination is simply a question to beryllium asked astir whether that should beryllium postponed portion a person comes into place," helium said.

He added: "I deliberation that's a substance that needs to beryllium discussed."

Ms Sturgeon, who announced her determination to discontinue astatine a astonishment quality league astatine Bute House successful Edinburgh connected Wednesday, volition stay successful station until a replacement is appointed.

She besides intends to stay arsenic an MSP until astatine slightest the adjacent Holyrood election.

Mr Russell said helium expected that process to beryllium "shortened" and for determination to beryllium a "contested election".

Though determination is nary evident campaigner to win the outgoing archetypal minister, imaginable candidates include: External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

Stephen Flynn antecedently ruled himself retired of contention for the role, adding that the adjacent caput of the SNP would travel from the Holyrood group.

Ms Sturgeon's resignation follows a bid of governmental challenges successful caller months arsenic her authorities sought to walk caller laws connected sex reforms, lone for them to beryllium blocked by Westminster.

She insisted the enactment surrounding a transgender treble rapist being sent to a women's jailhouse "wasn't the last straw", but said it is "time for idiosyncratic else" to pb the party.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledged the "choppy waters", but insisted her resignation was not successful effect to the "latest play of pressure".

"This determination comes from a deeper and longer-term assessment," she said.

"In my caput and successful my bosom I cognize that clip is now. That it's close for me, for my enactment and my country."