Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
The majority of Thursday’s front pages offer up their take on the shock resignation of Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Her resignation marked the end of eight years in power, Sturgeon cited physical and mental demands of the job – echoing Jacinda Ardern’s surprise resignation citing ‘burnout’.
The police press conference into missing mum Nicola Bulley also makes several of the front pages.
Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation shock
The Times says Strugeon’s resignation is a “huge boost to unionism”. The paper says senior Tories and Labour figures reacted with jubilation at her resignation. The paper quotes a Labour source as saying: “It’s great for us. The SNP is about to start a rats-fighting-in-a-sack race.”
The Daily Mail claims Sturgeon is leaving office with her dreams in tatters, saying Scotland has been plunged into turmoil and plans for another independence referendum are on the rocks.
The Guardian leads with an image of Sturgeon downcast, with its headline highlighting her comments about the brutality of the job, whilst the i newspaper sums up the story as “independence dream fades.”
The Financial Times says the SNP is now at a crossroads, describing Sturgeon as the thorn in the side of prime ministers for almost a decade. The paper’s editorial argues her sureness fo political touch had been slipping – as her gender recognition reform bill put her on the wrong side of most of Scotland’s opinion.
On the gender reform bill, the Telegraph claims the SNP is now set to ditch the self-identification plans.
The Metro reports on Sturgeon quitting and Keir Stamer announcing Jeremy Corbyn will not be allowed to stand for the party at the next election on its front page.
Reaction from Scottish newspapers
The Scotsman it is: “In my head and in my heart I know that the time is now.” The Daily Record chooses: “I want my independence” – alongside an image of the First Minister waving to members of the public from Bute House in Edinburgh. The Herald opts for: “I am a human being as well as a politician” – and says her resignation speech was “candid, at times tearful, but generally upbeat”. The National, which supports independence, goes with: “It’s been the privilege of my life”.
Missing Nicola Bulley
Both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express lead on missing mum-of-two Nicola Bulley after police gave a press conference yesterday.
The Mirror leads with the police remarks that Nicola was experiencing “significant issues with alcohol”, and was identified as a “high-risk” missing person because of “specific vulnerabilities”. The Daily Express leads with the same remarks about Nicola Bulley, with police describing her as “vulnerable” and struggling with the menopause.
