The Scottish first minister’s surprise resignation today was swiftly acknowledged as a “momentous point of change in Scottish politics” by the Scottish Property Federation.
SPF chair Stephen Lewis said Nicola Sturgeon – the longest serving first minister since the inception of the modern Scottish parliament – had “led the SNP to unprecedented electoral success and was clearly the recognised face of the devolved Scottish government internationally”.
But he added: “It is fair to say we have not agreed on many specific policies led by the first minister, including the current rent cap brought into effect in September 2022.”
The programme for the SNP-Green government may not change significantly. However, Lewis said a change of leadership could bring new opportunities for the property industry and other business stakeholders to work closely with the Scottish government “to promote sustainable economic development in Scotland, to deliver investment for much-needed new jobs and homes of all tenures across the country”.
Sturgeon made her surprise announcement at a press conference this morning, saying she had been “wrestling” with the question of her future for weeks before reaching a decision. A key factor is thought to have been her preference to use the next General Election as a “de facto” referendum on Scottish independence, which had met with sharp criticism from SNP MPs and supporters.
A special party conference to debate the strategy is scheduled for next month.
To send feedback, e-mail julia.cahill@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGJuliaC or @EGPropertyNews
