Nicola Sturgeon chokes up during speech after final FMQs descends into fiery clash with Douglas Ross

NICOLA Sturgeon choked up as she officially signed off after her final First Minister’s Questions today – which descended into a fiery clash with the Tories.

Speaking at her 286th and last ever FMQs, Ms Sturgeon fought back tears as she thanked the people of Scotland in her final speech at Holyrood.

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Ms Sturgeon wiped away a tear after her final speech

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Nicola Sturgeon held back her tears as she thanked the people of ScotlandCredit: PA

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The last FMQ’s of Ms Sturgeon’s tenure turned into a fiery rammyCredit: Getty

But for one last time, it descended into a rammy over SNP “lies” on party membership figures.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross accused the outgoing First Minister of “treating the Scottish public like idiots” after her party denied that 30,000 members had quit – despite it later emerging that the figure was accurate.

And he said that her last week in the job had been a “masterclass in deceit and spin”.

The Nats leader said the issue of membership numbers had been “well canvassed”, adding that the SNP has “by far” more members than any other party at Holyrood.

Mr Ross said of the SNP government: “They lied to the Press and they lied to the public.

“That is absolutely clear, and Nicola Sturgeon is treating the Scottish public like idiots with this embarrassing defence.”

The Scottish Tory leader highlighted that SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes and Ash Regan having raised their own concerns over the membership numbers.

He said: “The SNP’s story on these figures continued that the impression in the media was flat wrong, it was malicious and wholly inaccurate.

“They went on to say nobody was gullible enough to believe the reported reduction of 30,000 SNP members.

“But the truth is the SNP as a party did lie.

“That’s why their head of chief executive and the head of communications has resigned.”

The First Minister hit back at Ross as she chastised him for not picking another topic to ask about during her final FMQs.

Mr Ross added: “The First Minister’s farewell tour this week has been a masterclass in deceit and political spin.”

Ms Sturgeon was emotional as she told the chamber she was “overwhelmingly proud” of her achievements.

She said: “Being First Minister has been variously often all at once challenging, exhilarating and exhausting.

“Every single day without exception, it has been an utter privilege.”

And particularly her legacy as the first female First Minister saying: “As the first woman to hold this office, advancing gender equality has also been very close to my heart.

“No girl in our country now has any doubt that a woman can hold the highest office in the land.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar used his final opportunity to put questions to Ms Sturgeon at FMQs to call for a general election.

He said: “The First Minister has spent much of her political career talking about mandates. Her successor inherits this woeful SNP record, but they don’t inherit her mandate.

“The last election was a pandemic election, one in which the First Minister won with a direct appeal from her to steer the country through the pandemic and the Covid recovery.

“That recovery hasn’t even started. In fact, by every metric things have got worse.

“And now Scotland faces two crises, an NHS recovery that never began and the cost of living crisis.

“Families facing spiralling bills and soaring energy prices, but as her potential successor squabble over their own record in government, they can’t escape facts.

“They don’t have a plan for Scotland and they don’t have a mandate from the public and that is why we need an election now.”

The debate was interrupted by a protester shouting on the SNP leadership candidates to stop more North Sea exploration.

Business was suspended while the protester was removed by security.

And the longest serving First Minister held back tears as she thanked the people of Scotland one last time.

She said: “Whether you voted for me or not… thank you so much for placing your trust in me.

“Words will never adequately convey the gratitude and the awe I hold in my heart for the opportunity I have had to serve as your First Minister.

“It truly has been the privilege of my lifetime.”

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Ms Sturgeon paid tribute to John Swinney as the “best friend” she could have wished for on her journey.Credit: Reuters

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Ms Sturgeon said it had been the “privilege of my life” to serve as FMCredit: PA

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A protestor was escorted from the chamber and business was suspended for a period of timeCredit: Reuters

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