Nicola Sturgeon

The latest news and opinion on Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish politician and former First Minister of Scotland. Ms Sturgeon was formerly leader of the Scottish Government, SNP Party Leader as well as serving as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health. She stood down in March 2023.

Alba Party leader Alex Salmond could hold the key to Humza Yousaf's political future (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Alex Salmond says A9 dualling 'political will' was lost after he left

Former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Alex Salmond and Humza Yousaf

How many first ministers has Scotland had? How did they resign?

Should John Swinney do more for Scotland's universities? Picture: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Readers' Letters: It's time for John Swinney to back Scotland's universities

John Swinney signals end of SNP collaboration with Greens

Amid SNP and Conservative leadership chaos, there's been one silver lining Christine Jardine

Kate Forbes, pictured in January, is backing John Swinney to be Scotland's first minister (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: What does Swinney have to offer Scotland beyond Forbes?

Nicola Sturgeon appears at the in-conversation event at the Portobello Town Hall. Picture: Greg Macvean

Sturgeon accused of 'astounding lack of self-awareness' over women's rights

Labour's rise will motivate more voters than SNP's new heir apparent Brian Wilson

JK Rowling posts about Nicola Sturgeon's comments on women's rights

Exclusive Nicola Sturgeon warns of women's rights 'push back' and misogyny 'on the rise'

How Nicola Sturgeon's real lasting legacy is destroying the SNP Kenny MacAskill

SNP must provide electorate with an alternative to Keir Starmer’s plans 'to continue the plunder of Scotland' says reader

Readers' Letters: Resignation of Yousaf is chance for a fresh start for Scotland

John Swinney and Kate Forbes: The pros and cons SNP members may weigh up

Kate Forbes at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Kate Forbes confirms she is considering running for SNP leadership

Explainer Who is SNP veteran Swinney, as leadership bid looms?

Then First Minister Humza Yousaf and his new cabinet pose for a photograph at St Andrew's House on 8 February 2024 - did it lack a depth of talent? (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Time for Humza Yousaf and his B team to leave political pitch

Next SNP leader must tell followers that independence is dead for a generation Euan McColm

Yousaf’s failure to ditch Greens at start was root cause of his downfall John McLellan

Amid political storms, Humza Yousaf's premiership failed to chart its own course

First Minister Humza Yousaf reading through his speech before heading to the stage at the SNP independence convention at Caird Hall in Dundee. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The key moments, trials and tribulations of Yousaf's time in office

SNP face the biggest challenge to their grip on power for 17 years Christine Jardine

Analysis Minor achievements and even bigger rows – the legacy of Bute House Agreement

Humza Yousaf has seen Greens turn the end of BHA to their advantage Euan McColm

Yousaf is right about need for 'new beginning'. But it should be without him Brian Wilson

Humza Yousaf should have listened to women like Ash Regan about gender self-ID Susan Dalgety

Humza Yousaf and Rishi Sunak share a problem that's tearing their parties apart Alistair Carmichael

Yousaf left looking weak after only belatedly ditching Scottish Greens Euan McColm

First Minister Humza Yousaf at a march and rally for independence in Glasgow on Saturday. Picture: John Devlin

Scottish Government to publish paper on justice system post-independence

Yousaf needs to realise that the SNP-Green marriage is over Paul Wilson

Christine Graham MSP has said the power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Green Party has 'run its course'

Christine Graham joins calls for Humza Yousaf to end Bute House Agreement

One of SNP policies meant to make up for scrapped climate target is set to fail Richard Dixon

Bute House Disagreement: SNP MSPs getting sick of Scottish Green 'cranks' Euan McColm

SNP MP Joanna Cherry is right about her party's flaws in government Murdo Fraser

Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is seen leaving her home in Glasgow. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon due to finish first draft of memoir weeks before husband charged

Analysis The Greens ending the co-operation deal will harm Yousaf's authority

A man couldn't get away with the things women say about Sturgeon and Sweeney Aidan Smith

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon leaving her home last week. Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon became difficult to deal with post-Brexit, claims David Mundell

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater announce the Bute House Agreement in 2021. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/pool/AFP via Getty Images

What will happen next with Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Greens?

Why Yousaf's big problem is that the SNP has changed but the voters have not Euan McColm

SNP 'Progressivism' is marked by Trumpian intolerance of political opponents Nina Welsch

Analysis Will Peter Murrell bombshell add to Humza Yousaf’s woes?

Sturgeon speaks as Yousaf says Murrell charge ‘really serious' matter

Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement of SNP funds

What we know so far about the police investigation into SNP finances

Analysis Scotland's climate U-turn leaves the Greens facing questions

John-Paul Marks is Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government (Picture: Andrew Cowan-Pool/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Not all Westminster grievances are 'manufactured'

SNP 'Masterminds' have started, so they'll stay on course for disaster to finish Kenny MacAskill

Author Val McDermid. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Aye Write: 'Unexpected' donation allows nine 'pop-up' events to go ahead

Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid share a love of books (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Nicola Sturgeon is not disliked because she's a woman

Former prime minister Liz Truss criticised the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Liz Truss claims Gender Recognition Reform led to Nicola Sturgeon resignation

The SNP-Green coalition is facing a test

Insight: SNP-Greens deal could be set for a fresh challenge

The fourth episode of The Steamie for 2022 is now live. Picture: JPI Media/Shutterstock

The Steamie: Scotsman's politics podcast celebrates 100 episodes

Nicola Sturgeon addresses Holyrood from the back benches during the debate on the 2023 -24 Programme for Government at the Scottish Parliament last September (Picture: eff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' letters: Has Nicola Sturgeon forgotten she has constituents?

The polling shows the first lead for Sir Keir Starmer's party since 2014.

Labour lead SNP in Scotland for first time since indyref, poll shows

Cracks in SNP-Green coalition look set to widen as tensions grow Euan McColm

Fathers could use more paternity leave to help look after their babies (Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

Yousaf is taking paternity leave but many fathers struggle to do their bit

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries