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| New Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes gender equality pledge | New Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes gender equality pledge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The newly elected first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has pledged to deliver greater opportunities for women. | The newly elected first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has pledged to deliver greater opportunities for women. |
| Ms Sturgeon, the first female to hold the post, also vowed to tackle low pay and improve childcare. | Ms Sturgeon, the first female to hold the post, also vowed to tackle low pay and improve childcare. |
| The politician, who succeeded Alex Salmond, said she had "big boots" to fill but would "wear them in my own way". | The politician, who succeeded Alex Salmond, said she had "big boots" to fill but would "wear them in my own way". |
| She promised to represent all people in Scotland, regardless of their politics. | She promised to represent all people in Scotland, regardless of their politics. |
| Ms Sturgeon, who took over as SNP leader from Mr Salmond at the weekend, told parliament: "My pledge today to every citizen of our country is simple but it is heartfelt - I will be first minister for all of Scotland, regardless of your politics or your point of view. | Ms Sturgeon, who took over as SNP leader from Mr Salmond at the weekend, told parliament: "My pledge today to every citizen of our country is simple but it is heartfelt - I will be first minister for all of Scotland, regardless of your politics or your point of view. |
| "My job is to serve you and I promise that I will do so to the very best of my ability." | "My job is to serve you and I promise that I will do so to the very best of my ability." |
| Describing herself as a "working class girl from Ayrshire", she added: "I hope that my election as first minister does indeed help to open the gate to greater opportunity for all women. | Describing herself as a "working class girl from Ayrshire", she added: "I hope that my election as first minister does indeed help to open the gate to greater opportunity for all women. |
| "I hope that it sends a strong, positive message to girls and young women, indeed to all women, across our land - there should be no limit to your ambition for what you can achieve. | "I hope that it sends a strong, positive message to girls and young women, indeed to all women, across our land - there should be no limit to your ambition for what you can achieve. |
| "If you are good enough and if you work hard enough, the sky is the limit and no glass ceiling should ever stop you from achieving your dreams." | "If you are good enough and if you work hard enough, the sky is the limit and no glass ceiling should ever stop you from achieving your dreams." |
| As her eight-year-old niece, Harriet Owens, watched from the parliament's public gallery, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs: "She doesn't yet know about the gender pay gap , or underrepresentation, or the barriers like high childcare costs that make it so hard for so many women to work and pursue careers. | |
| "My fervent hope is that she never will, that by the time she is a young woman she will have no need to know about any of these issues because they will have been consigned to history." | |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "If, during my tenure as first minister, I can play a part in making that so for my niece and for every other little girl in this country, I will be very, very happy indeed." | |
| Ms Sturgeon also said she would continue to argue the case for independence, but would also do her best with Scotland's devolved powers to tackle poverty, boost business and the economy, and tackle inequality. | |
| "There is a burning desire across our country to build a more prosperous, fairer and better Scotland," she said. | |
| "People didn't just vote yes for a better country - I know that those who voted no want a better country too." | |
| The women-only club | |
| Nicola Sturgeon is set to become the 20th member of the worldwide club of women leaders. At 44, she'll be one of the youngest in its ranks - although she can't beat South Korea's Park Geun-hye who took on her power role at the tender age of 22. | |
| So, how else does Ms Sturgeon - the Irvine-born former solicitor - compare with other's in this exclusive set? | |
| Ms Sturgeon was voted in as first minister in parliament after a contest against Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who put her name forward as a "Unionist alternative". | |
| However, the SNP's parliamentary majority helped ensure Ms Sturgeon got the job as Scotland's fifth first minister by 66 votes to 15, with 39 abstentions. | |
| On Thursday, Ms Sturgeon will be formally sworn into the role before Scotland's judges in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, and will receive a Royal Warrant. | On Thursday, Ms Sturgeon will be formally sworn into the role before Scotland's judges in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, and will receive a Royal Warrant. |
| She is also expected to appoint a deputy first minister, possibly as part of a wider reshuffle of the Scottish government's ministerial team later in the week. | She is also expected to appoint a deputy first minister, possibly as part of a wider reshuffle of the Scottish government's ministerial team later in the week. |
| Mr Salmond, who stood down as first minister and SNP leader in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum, is staying on as the MSP for Abderdeenshire East. | Mr Salmond, who stood down as first minister and SNP leader in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum, is staying on as the MSP for Abderdeenshire East. |
| However, the former MP is also considering standing for Westminster in the 2015 UK election. | However, the former MP is also considering standing for Westminster in the 2015 UK election. |
| Ms Sturgeon's friends and family were present at Holyrood to see her become first minister. | Ms Sturgeon's friends and family were present at Holyrood to see her become first minister. |
| The politicians's mother, Joan Sturgeon, said her daughter had achieved her life's ambition and she was "very, very proud" of her. | The politicians's mother, Joan Sturgeon, said her daughter had achieved her life's ambition and she was "very, very proud" of her. |