His then-depute, Roseanna Cunningham, immediately announced her intention to stand for the leadership. She attended Dreghorn Primary School from 1975 to 1982 and Greenwood Academy from 1982 to 1988. Nicola Sturgeon has a lesbian lover she was romping with in the Balmoral Hotel: They had a big argument and Nicola threw an iron at her which caused a commotion. As Mr Salmond was an MP in Westminster, Ms Sturgeon carved out her own profile as the SNPs Holyrood leader. ", "Covid in Scotland: Inadequate preparations for Covid, says watchdog", "Scottish government inadequately prepared for Covid watchdog", "Covid in Scotland: Places of worship can open now after court win", "Church leaders pile pressure on Sturgeon to lift public worship ban", "Scotland's Covid death toll officially passes 10,000", "The full picture of Covid-linked deaths in Scotland's care homes", "Nicola Sturgeon leads calls for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to resign", "Nicola Sturgeon demands Boris Johnson resigns after Prime Minister fined", "Police speak to Nicola Sturgeon over mask breach", "Police Scotland takes 'no further action' on Nicola Sturgeon following face mask complaint", "Covid in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon gets police warning but no fine after mask law break", "Health boards told to fill 15 million cut in funding for drug and alcohol care", "Proposed cuts on funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Scotland", "Drug deaths in Scotland rose by 23% in 2016", "Scotland's drug deaths rise to new record", "Sturgeon: We took our eye off the ball on drug deaths", "Deaths among homeless people in Scotland up 10%", "Drug deaths in Scotland reach new record level", "Scotland: Drug deaths hit record level for seventh year in a row here's what the data shows", "Nicola Sturgeon accused of ignoring drug deaths epidemic in Scotland", "Scottish government under pressure as drug deaths fell by just nine in 2021", "Drug deaths in Scotland fall by one per cent but are still second highest ever recorded", "Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish education 'not good enough', "Nicola Sturgeon: Judge me on education record", "Attainment gap remains wide and better education data needed | Audit Scotland", "School attainment gap 'remains wide', watchdog warns", "Nicola Sturgeon makes gender recognition pledge", "Scottish transgender reforms put on hold", "Several women 'close to quitting SNP over gender recognition plans', "Joanna Cherry accuses SNP colleagues of 'performative histrionics' over transgender issue", "Anger over trans woman on all-female SNP shortlist", "SNP civil war deepens as leading Sturgeon critic Joanna Cherry purged from Westminster team", "Transgender reforms shelved due to coronavirus pandemic", "Why has the SNP been accused of 'transphobic views' and who is Teddy Hope? She is the first woman to hold either position. Lets get that debate started! [209], The announcement was welcomed by the Scottish Green party but Greenpeace criticised Sturgeon for not coming out more strongly against the oil field. [265][failed verification], Sturgeon is a constitutional monarchist, telling journalists that it is "a model that has many merits". Divide and conquer is a strategy the British establishment has frequently used with great effect to achieve their ends. and in August that year included the commitment in her agreement with the Scottish Greens on power sharing. DON'T MISSHow Labour's Ian Lavery hit out at 'football hooliganism' conviction[INSIGHT]Emily Thornberry's absurd Iran letter exposed[REVEALED]Dennis Skinners damning prediction about Queen Elizabeth II revealed[VIDEO]. This also made her First Minister-Designate, given the SNP's absolute majority in the Scottish Parliament. Most have been disowned or ignored by their subjects. I try (tho don't alway", "Nicola Sturgeon miscarriage: First minister reveals baby loss", President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicola_Sturgeon&oldid=1133020410, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 22:31. Following her graduation, Sturgeon completed her legal traineeship at McClure Naismith, a Glasgow firm of solicitors, in 1995. [321][322], Her mother Joan was the SNP Provost of North Ayrshire council, where she was councillor for the Irvine East ward from 2007 until 2016. Be clear, people. Comments have been closed on this article. contact the editor here. She has made several demands for a Section 30 order, however, they have been declined by both Theresa May and Boris Johnson, with Liz Truss stating she would "ignore"[6][7] Sturgeon's future requests. [44][45] Although the SNP was recognised as the winners of the election, it failed to obtain a majority and Labour was not willing to allow the SNP to enter government. Unionist nicknames for Nicola Sturgeon simply show they are feart | The National Letters Unionist nicknames for Nicola Sturgeon simply show they are feart By Readers of The National Share 8 Comments The First Minister is head and shoulders above bumbling Boris Johnson I AM now 80 and have been a member of the SNP for more than half of that time. while other islanders said they had missed doctors appointments, funerals and even the chance to say goodbye to dying loved ones because of cancelled sailings. Despite Ullrich failing to win the seat, Sturgeon ploughed her political energy to the Young Scottish Nationalists (now the Young Scots For Independence), joining its national executive when she was 17. "The basic values of integrity and decency - essential to the proper working of any parliamentary democracy - demand that he go," she tweeted. [185], Ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Sturgeon pledged to review and reform the way that trans people change their legal gender. "[138], Sturgeon led her party to a landslide victory in the 2019 United Kingdom general election in Scotland. In the 2016 election, the SNP was returned as the largest single party in the Scottish Parliament but fell two seats short of a majority. [54][55], Sturgeon also outlined a guaranteed 18-week wait for patients after they had seen their GP and vowed to do away with deferred or "hidden" waiting lists. Sturgeon argued that the meetings were SNP party matters, and thus not covered. [89] During the speech launching her campaign, Sturgeon announced that she would resign as Depute Leader, triggering a concurrent depute leadership election; the MSPs Angela Constance and Keith Brown and the MP Stewart Hosie all nominated themselves to succeed Sturgeon as Depute Leader. First Minister Nicola has been known as ' Nippy Sweetie' for more than a decade after being given the nickname early on in her political career. The SNP won 48 seats, and came second place in the 11 others; their 45% of the vote yielded 80% of the seats in Scotland. Absolutely not, there's no man I know who is less sexist. The SNP leader, who entered the Scottish Parliament when it was created in 1999 aged 26, said she was surrounded by middle-aged men at the start of her political career. Nicola Sturgeon is a Scottish politician. [236] She sought the Prime Minister to consent to the vote by signing a section 30 order, a move that Downing Street has refused to comply. [51] She was supported in her role as Health Secretary by Shona Robison, the Minister for Public Health and Sport, and by Alex Neil, the Minister for Housing and Communities. She also served as a member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and the Health and Community Care Committee. In the 1987 UK General election, Sturgeon got her first taste of campaigning, going door-to-door to get her local SNP candidate, Kay Ullrich, elected to Westminster. "[170] That year 867 Scots lost their lives to drugs an increase of 23% on the previous year's figures and the SNP insisted it was part of a trend seen across much Europe. That said, it also led Mr Salmond to resign and Ms Sturgeon became the new leader after facing no opposition. Following the defeat of the Yes Scotland campaign in the referendum, Salmond resigned and Sturgeon was elected unopposed as SNP leader in November 2014 and appointed as first minister. [323], In 2016, Sturgeon disclosed that she had miscarried five years previously. [146] On 23 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sturgeon ordered Scotland into "lockdown", limiting the reasons as to why people may leave their homes in an increase attempt to limit the spread of the virus, to protect the health of the population, as well as to ease the pressure the virus places on NHS Scotland services and workforce. She's come a long way since being nicknamed "Seaweed" at school - back then even the tide wouldn't take her out. [246][247] Some SNP members have urged Sturgeon to call an early election at Holyrood to speed up the process for a de facto referendum. Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician serving as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since 2014. Scottish Independence is a misdirection play. There will be no inderef3 in your lifetime and certainly not in mine. [140][141][142][143] In the wake of the results, Sturgeon said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has "no right" to stand in the way of another Scottish independence referendum after an "overwhelming" SNP election victory. Niko Nickname. The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 began during Sturgeon's second term as First Minister. [117] As the constitution is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998, for a future referendum on Scottish independence to be legal under UK law, it would need to receive the consent of the British Parliament to take place. The victims of drugs and their families were failed. [100] On 21 November, she unveiled her Cabinet with a 50/50 gender balance, promoting Finance Secretary John Swinney to become her Deputy First Minister. Overall, it concluded that ministers "could have been better prepared to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic". [273][274], Sturgeon has also campaigned on women's rights and gender equality, and is a self-described feminist; she has argued that Scotland's feminist movement is not simply symbolic, but "sends a powerful signal about equality". However, that decision is not for today. ", "BBC NEWS | Election 2007 | Scottish Parliament | Election Result: Glasgow Govan", "Salmond prepares for SNP minority government", "Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan", "Sturgeon to reverse A&E closure decision", "Scottish government confirms plans to scrap prescription charges", "Prescription charges abolished in Scotland", "Swine influenza Health Protection Agency update", "WHO | World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic", "UK plays down swine flu pandemic implications", "Scottish death marks Europe's first H1N1 fatality", "Scottish minimum alcohol pricing passed by parliament", "Scottish cabinet reshuffle: Nicola Sturgeon given new independence role", "High-speed rail plan for Glasgow to Edinburgh line", "High speed Glasgow-Edinburgh rail link plans 'shelved', "Scottish independence would allow economy to grow, says Sturgeon", "Nicola Sturgeon interview: 'I do believe Scotland can be better off', "Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled", "Independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon accuses Westminister of bullying over currency", "Scottish minister Nicola Sturgeon hits back over sterling threat", "Scottish independence: Barroso says joining EU would be 'difficult', "Sturgeon warns Europeans could lose right to stay", "UK minister: Sturgeon used EU nationals as bargaining chips", "Scottish independence referendum: final results in full", "Scottish referendum results: As Alex Salmond steps down, Nicola Sturgeon waits for her chance to lead", "Alex Salmond Resigns: Will SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Replace Him? She was categorised in 2015 as part of the SNP's gradualist wing, which believed in achieving independence through accumulating the Scottish Parliament's powers from the UK Parliament over time. [93], At a speech in Dundee's Caird Hall on 7 November, Sturgeon pledged to be "the most accessible First Minister ever" when she took over. Sturgeon - who had previously apologised to the Scottish Parliament after she was caught breaking the same law in December 2020[166] - apologised once more and said the police had been "absolutely right to treat me no differently to any other citizen. They announced their engagement on 29 January 2010,[318] and were married on 16 July 2010 at ran Mr in Glasgow. She was unsuccessful, having been beaten by almost 15,000 votes by Labour. 0 comment. On 20 November 2014, Sturgeon was formally sworn into office. [15][16] Her younger sister, Gillian Sturgeon, is an NHS worker. She would grill Labours Jack McConnell at First Ministers questions each week, unleashing her assertiveness. [268] She described the Queen as the "greatest constant in our national life" and added her death was a day for reflection and remembrance" and "a day for giving thanks to The Queen for her devotion to duty and the decades of public service she gave to the people of Scotland.[269][270], She has at times been a critic of austerity, saying that the UK government's "austerity economics" is "morally unjustifiable and economically unsustainable". "[227][228][229][230], In June 2022, Sturgeon officially announced her plan for Scottish independence once again. [38] As Salmond was still an MP in the House of Commons, Sturgeon led the SNP at the Scottish Parliament until the 2007 election, when Salmond was elected as an MSP. [225][226][224] Key documentation, which might have explained why ministers signed the contracts without appropriate safeguards to protect taxpayers' money, was lost and Sturgeon later said this too was "regrettable" and that "the Government will learn lessons. [172] In December 2020 figures were released revealing that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drug overdoses in 2019 the highest number in Europe per head and more than double the number in 2014. [253], In response to the Brexit vote, to discuss Scotland's interests, Sturgeon travelled to Brussels to meet with both Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission as well as Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament.[254][255]. [257] With London seeking to restrict immigration to the United Kingdom, she asserted that Scotland should be able to set its own immigration policy, as well as policies relating to employment and trade. [208] The letter represented a significant shift in policy for the SNP, which had historically been a strong supporter of the oil and gas industry; the party's blueprint for an independent Scotland in 2013 was predicated on tax revenue earned from domestic oil production, while Sturgeon had predicted in the run up to the referendum that, "Were on the verge of another North Sea bonanza". Recently, Nicola Sturgeon caught the headlines after being accused of treating the north of England with contempt. [199] In the election, the SNP won 64 of the 129 seats contested. During her time at the University of Glasgow she was active as a member of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association and the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council. NICOLA Sturgeon trolled her critics this evening by owning one of the nicknames she's picked up over the years. "Based on this experience, Health Protection Scotland has expressed the view that sustained community transmission appears to be taking place. She once addressed the name and told journalists. Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon, 49, was born in Irvine, Scotland. [250][251][252] Sturgeon has committed to strengthening links between Scotland and Africa. SNP membership surged and the party achieved stunningly good results in the 2015 general election, winning 56 out of the 59 seats in Scotland. [313], Forbes magazine ranked Sturgeon as the 50th most powerful woman in the world in 2016 and 2nd in the United Kingdom. How Labour's Emily Thornberry was attacked for divisive Iran comments, Nicola Sturgeon's surprise inspiration for political career exposed, Nicola Sturgeon entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Nicola Sturgeon was deputy leader of the SNP when Alex Salmond was leader, How Jess Phillips clashed with Diane Abbott I told her to f*** off', Roy Jenkins chilling prediction about Labour Party's future exposed, Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament, How Iran praised Jeremy Corbyn for shaking British ruling class, How Labour's Ian Lavery hit out at 'football hooliganism' conviction, Emily Thornberry's absurd Iran letter exposed, Dennis Skinners damning prediction about Queen Elizabeth II revealed, How Tony Blair admitted he make a mistake with Scottish devolution, Ian Blackford accused of 'staggering hypocrisy' over 50k other jobs, How Scottish independence march could ruin 700-year-old anniversary. This included rows over the House of Commons' decision to replace the Trident nuclear weapon system, and the SNP's plans to replace council tax in Scotland with a local income tax. ", "Moray: 'We are fed up with the SNP. [235], Sturgeon officially announced that the referendum would be held on 19 October 2023. [194][195], In the 2021 SNP manifesto, Sturgeon committed the party once again to reform the Gender Recognition Act[196] [297][298][299] Sturgeon claimed Johnson's "fragile male ego" stopped him from meeting her. Overall 52% of voters in the United Kingdom voted for Brexit (leaving the EU), with 48% voting to remain. [33] On 24 June 2004, Sturgeon announced that she would also be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the leadership, with Kenny MacAskill as her running mate. If Scotland was outside Europe, they would lose the right to stay here."[79][80]. The investigating panel consisted of Dame Elish Angiolini, a former Solicitor General for Scotland and lord advocate, and James Hamilton, a former director of public prosecutions in the Republic of Ireland. From 18 November until her officially appointment on 20 November, she served as the acting First Minister, essentially the First Minister-elect.[97]. Sturgeon confirmed in June 2016 that the Scottish government had formally agreed to draft legislation to allow a second independence referendum to take place. The success continued in the 2016 Holyrood elections but then the Leave vote in the EU referendum shook everything up. After the SNPs success in the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, Ms Sturgeon became Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary. [46] Sturgeon led coalition negotiation talks between the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens, but these talks failed to reach an agreement, with the Lib Dems backing out and the Greens instead supporting a 'confidence and supply' agreement. There's plenty to admire about Nicola Sturgeon. [94], Sturgeon was formally acclaimed as the first female Leader of the SNP on 14 November 2014 at the Autumn Conference in Perth, with Hosie as her depute. Aged 21, Sturgeon was selected as the SNP candidate in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency. Photograph: Fraser Bremner/Daily Mail/PA She is known for UK General Election (1950), Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle (2017) and ITV Weekend News (1955).