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Hello and welcome to Coffee House Shots. I'm James Heal and I'm joined today by Katie Bulls and Isabelle Hartman.

Well, it's a quite week of recess and this morning the First Minister resigned and let's hear an audio clip.

Since my very first moments in the job, I have believed that part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else.

And when that time came to have the courage to do so, even if to many across the country and in my party it might feel too soon.

In my head and in my heart, I know that time is now, that it is right for me, for my party and for the country.

And so today I am announcing my intention to step down as First Minister and leader of my party.

Katie, why now?

Well, I think this is the question lots are asking today.

And that Nick and the Stairsions, we just heard from that clip, was talking about the personal pressure, the role of First Minister,

which she's been in for eight years, but obviously in front line politics for longer than that has taken on her.

She spoke about she had family members who used to be younger and now they're older and the passage of time.

And how you are in a way robbed of opportunities to have some of these moments because it's a job that demands so much.

Now, I think lots of people will emphasize a bit with that, the strain of front line politics.

But ultimately it's not why most people believe that Nick and the Stairsions have chosen to go now.

It's been quite clear for some time that the grip on her party, you know, it's been loosening.

You had different routes, but I think most significantly, I think independence.

And then the gender reform, but I think it's just added to that.

So there was interesting polling yesterday about how I think a majority of Scots back where she seemed like for blocking that piece on gender self ID, that legislation,

which I think therefore was adding to the sense that it was a gamble that has backfired for her decision to push it through.

But more so, Nick and the Stairsions had a part of the party that was going very festive was the reason the SMP exists, which has got its independence.

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