NICOLA Sturgeon's mother has announced she is to quit politics to spend more time "crafting".
Joan Sturgeon said she had always planned to stand down in May, having served two terms as a councillor for Irvine East in North Ayrshire and leaving after a decade in politics.
She had been Provost for over four years, resigning in August amid concerns rivals were threatening to oust her from the position and seize control of the council.
Her decision to quit comes four months after standing down from the top ceremonial post.
However, it is expected that the First Minister's father Robin Sturgeon will stand as an SNP candidate at council elections in May.
His failure to become the third member of his family to win elected office in Scotland precipitated the crisis which led to the SNP giving up power in North Ayrshire.
Labour’s victory in a by-election in Irvine meant it became the largest party on the council.
Local sources have said Mr Sturgeon is being touted as a key player in an SNP-led council should the party win the vote in May but would be charged with repairing a group of councillors left fractured after the decision to resign en masse.
The recently retired security systems engineer has put his name forward for vetting and assessment as a candidate but The Herald understands he is yet to commit to fighting the election.
One senior SNP figure said that while Mrs Sturgeon "maybe just felt it was time to retire" her decision would have been influenced by a bruising summer.
The source said: "Joan came into politics later in life and perhaps hadn't served the time those like Nicola have to give them a thick hide.
"It's probably not been the most pleasant experience, particularly in the last couple of months.
"I've sometimes felt that even some within the local party have used Joan's profile as a bit of a tool.
"If I were her I'd maybe feel two terms was enough also."
The source added: "I don't really know Robin but some who do rate him highly.
"He'll have a skillset from the real world and while not experienced in frontline politics is very familiar with the scene."
The Herald had revealed in August that following Robin Sturgeon's defeat and the swing to Labour, local sources had said securing the political scalp of his Provost wife would have proven too hard to resist for Labour.
Despite winning the highest number of first preference votes, Mr Sturgeon was defeated by Labour’s Louise McPhater after second preferences were taken into account.
It came after the seat was vacated by Ruth Maguire when she was elected as SNP MSP for Cunninghame South in May.
He blamed his defeat on 639 voters who backed the Tories with their first vote supporting Labour with alternative preferences under the single transferable vote.
It led to the the appointment of Joe Cullinane as head of North Ayrshire, Scotland's first and so far only outward supporter of UK Labour party boss, Jeremy Corbyn.
Mrs Sturgeon said: “It was always my plan to retire at the end of this administration.
"I am looking forward to enjoying my retirement and spending more time on crafting.”
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