Page 68 - Peter Murrell News Today

The SNP’s reliance on Nicola Sturgeon’s “cult of personality” to win elections was “uncomfortable”, the party’s deputy leader at Westminster has said.

Nicola Sturgeon’s former chief of staff has said the SNP faces its biggest challenge in 20 years in 2024 as it tries “to get its act together”.

How has the political adversity he faced in 2023 shaped the new first minister's leadership?

A look back at a turbulent year for politics in Scotland.

Veterans of the 2014 campaign point to turmoil within the SNP - the primary vehicle for gaining independence - as a stumbling block.

In her last New Year ­message to the nation, ­delivered on December 31, 2022, Nicola Sturgeon sounded like a woman on a mission. Just 46 days later, she announced her resignation.

As she faced her final press conference of 2022 last Christmas, the first minister of Scotland seemed unassailable. Nicola Sturgeon had negotiated the Covid pandemic with consummate skill – at least in terms of presentation. Her personal popularity, while not what it was, remained unnaturally high for the leader of a party that had been in

The year has not been short of dramatic events and developments from the Coronation of a new king to a devastating war in Israel and Gaza.

As 2023 draws to a close, we've been looking back on key events from the year as it unfolded in UK and world and politics.

Looking back at the top 20 stories on the BBC Scotland news website in the past year.