Nicola Sturgeon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Sturgeon in 2021
First Minister of Scotland
In office 20 November 2014 – 28 March 2023
Monarch	Elizabeth II Charles III
Deputy	John Swinney
Preceded by	Alex Salmond
Succeeded by	Humza Yousaf
Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office 14 November 2014 – 27 March 2023
Depute	Stewart Hosie Angus Robertson Keith Brown
Preceded by	Alex Salmond
Succeeded by	Humza Yousaf
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
In office 17 May 2007 – 20 November 2014
First Minister	Alex Salmond
Preceded by	Nicol Stephen
Succeeded by	John Swinney
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office 3 September 2004 – 14 November 2014
Leader	Alex Salmond
Preceded by	Roseanna Cunningham
Succeeded by	Stewart Hosie
Ministerial offices Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities In office 5 September 2012 – 19 November 2014 First Minister Alex Salmond Preceded by Alex Neil Succeeded by Keith Brown Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing In office 17 May 2007 – 5 September 2012 First Minister Alex Salmond Preceded by Andy Kerr Succeeded by Alex Neil
Parliamentary offices Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Southside Glasgow Govan (2007–2011) Incumbent Assumed office 3 May 2007 Preceded by Gordon Jackson Majority 9,593 (38.5%) Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) In office 6 May 1999 – 3 May 2007
Personal details
Born	Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon (1970-07-19) 19 July 1970 (age 54) Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
Political party	Scottish National Party
Spouse	Peter Murrell ​ ​ (m. 2010; sep. 2025)​
Parents	Robin Sturgeon Joan Kerr Ferguson
Alma mater	University of Glasgow
Cabinet	1st 2nd 3rd
Signature
Website	Parliament website

Nicola Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician. She was the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2023. She has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999.

Sturgeon grew up in Ayrshire and studied law at the University of Glasgow. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a lawyer in Glasgow. She was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

She became the SNP's deputy leader in 2004, working alongside Alex Salmond. When Salmond became First Minister in 2007, Sturgeon became his deputy. She also served as the Health Secretary and later as the Infrastructure Secretary.

After Scotland voted against independence in 2014, Alex Salmond resigned. Nicola Sturgeon was then chosen as the new leader of the SNP and became the First Minister. She was the first woman to hold either of these important jobs.

Early Life and Education

Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon was born in Irvine, Scotland, on 19 July 1970. She is the older of two daughters. Her mother, Joan, was a dental nurse, and her father, Robin, was an electrician.

Sturgeon grew up in Prestwick and Dreghorn. She was a quiet child who loved reading books. She has said she was a "shy" teenager.

She went to Dreghorn Primary School and Greenwood Academy. Later, she studied law at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1992. While at university, she was active in student politics.

Early Political Career

Joining Politics

Nicola Sturgeon joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) when she was 16, in 1986. She quickly became involved in the party's youth groups. She started campaigning for the SNP in the 1987 UK General Election.

Sturgeon has said that Margaret Thatcher inspired her to enter politics. She felt it was wrong for Scotland to be governed by a party that most Scots had not voted for.

In the 1992 general election, at age 21, Sturgeon was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland. She ran in Glasgow Shettleston but did not win. She also ran unsuccessfully in several local council elections.

Member of the Scottish Parliament

In 1999, Sturgeon was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region. The SNP became the second-largest party.

As an MSP, she served as the SNP's spokesperson for education, health, and justice. She also worked on committees for education and health.

Becoming Deputy Leader

In 2004, the SNP leader, John Swinney, resigned. Nicola Sturgeon first thought about running for leader herself. However, she later decided to support Alex Salmond and ran as his deputy leader instead.

On 3 September 2004, Salmond and Sturgeon were elected as leader and deputy leader of the SNP. Since Salmond was still a Member of Parliament (MP) in London, Sturgeon led the SNP in the Scottish Parliament until 2007. She became known as "nippy sweetie," a Scottish term for someone who is sharp-tongued and strong-minded.

Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2007–2014)

In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP won the most seats. Alex Salmond became First Minister of Scotland, and he appointed Nicola Sturgeon as his Deputy First Minister. She was also given the role of Health Secretary.

Health Secretary

As Health Secretary, Sturgeon introduced new plans for NHS Scotland. She reversed decisions to close some hospital units. She also oversaw the removal of prescription charges in Scotland, which had been an SNP promise.

During the 2009 flu pandemic, Sturgeon became well-known for how she handled the situation. She kept the public informed about the virus and the government's actions to control its spread.

Infrastructure Secretary

After the SNP won a large majority in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, Sturgeon was given a new role in 2012. She became the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities. This meant she was in charge of major building projects and preparing for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

Sturgeon played a key role in the campaign for Scottish independence. She argued that independence would help Scotland become a stronger country. She also said it would allow Scotland to change its spending priorities.

In the referendum on 19 September 2014, 55.3% of voters chose to remain part of the UK, while 44.7% voted for independence. After the "No" vote, Alex Salmond resigned as First Minister and SNP leader. Sturgeon quickly announced she would run to replace him.

Becoming SNP Leader

On 24 September 2014, Sturgeon officially launched her campaign to become the new leader of the SNP. She was the only candidate and was formally chosen as leader on 14 November 2014. This made her the first female leader of the SNP.

In her first speech as leader, Sturgeon said it was the "privilege of her life" to lead the party. She also promised to be a very open and accessible First Minister.

First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023)

First Term (2014–2016)

On 20 November 2014, Nicola Sturgeon officially became the First Minister of Scotland. She was the first woman to hold this position. She promised to listen to ideas from all political parties.

First Cabinet

Sturgeon chose her first cabinet (a group of senior ministers) on 21 November 2014. She appointed John Swinney as her Deputy First Minister. Her cabinet had an equal number of men and women, with five men and five women, including herself.

2015 UK General Election

Sturgeon led the SNP to a huge victory in the 2015 United Kingdom general election. The party won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland. This was the SNP's best ever result. They became the third-largest party in the British House of Commons.

Sturgeon said that this success was not a direct call for another independence referendum. Instead, it was a sign that Scotland wanted a stronger voice in the UK Parliament.

2016 Scottish Parliament Election

Sturgeon launched the SNP's plans for the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. She promised to increase funding for the NHS and introduce "baby boxes" for new parents. She also hinted at holding a second referendum on Scottish independence if re-elected.

The SNP won a third term in government, but they lost their overall majority. Sturgeon formed a minority government.

Second Term (2016–2021)

2016 EU Membership Referendum

In 2016, the UK held a vote on whether to leave the European Union. The UK as a whole voted to leave, but Scotland voted strongly to remain in the EU. Across Scotland, 62% of voters wanted to stay.

After the result, Sturgeon said that Scotland's future was clearly with the European Union. She announced that the Scottish Government would start planning for a second independence referendum. She felt it was wrong for Scotland to be taken out of the EU against its will.

Future Independence Referendum

Sturgeon confirmed that the Scottish government would prepare laws for a second independence referendum. However, for such a vote to be legal, it needed approval from the UK Parliament.

The UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, said that it was "not the time for another referendum." Later, Sturgeon's government decided to delay plans for a second referendum until at least autumn 2018. All plans were then put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2017 UK General Election

In the 2017 United Kingdom general election, the SNP lost 21 seats. Sturgeon admitted these results were "disappointing." She said that her party's plans for a second referendum were likely a reason for the losses.

2019 UK General Election

Sturgeon led the SNP to another big victory in the 2019 United Kingdom general election. The SNP won 48 seats out of 59 in Scotland. Sturgeon said that this result meant Prime Minister Boris Johnson had "no right" to stop another Scottish independence referendum.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic began during Sturgeon's second term. The first case in Scotland was confirmed on 1 March 2020. Sturgeon's government ordered schools to close and Scotland went into "lockdown" on 23 March. This was to limit the spread of the virus and protect the NHS.

Restrictions were changed many times based on how the virus was spreading. Sturgeon later said that if she could go back in time, she would have ordered the lockdown earlier.

In April 2022, Sturgeon tested positive for COVID-19 and self-isolated.

Third Term (2021–23)

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP won 64 out of 129 seats. This was their fourth election win in a row. Sturgeon became the first First Minister to serve a third term. She appointed John Swinney to a new role focused on COVID recovery.

Power-sharing Agreement

In August 2021, the SNP and the Scottish Green Party reached a power-sharing agreement. This meant the Green Party co-leaders would become ministers in the government.

Climate Crisis

Sturgeon's government changed its stance on oil and gas development. She asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to rethink plans for the Cambo oil field due to the climate emergency. This was a big change for the SNP, which had historically supported the oil industry.

Ferry Delays

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, there were many complaints about unreliable ferries connecting Scottish islands to the mainland. Two new ferries, ordered in 2015, faced big delays and cost much more than planned.

Sturgeon expressed "deep regret" about the problems. She said the government was "learning lessons" from the experience.

Second Independence Referendum Proposals

In June 2022, Sturgeon again proposed plans for Scottish independence. She argued her government had a clear reason to hold another referendum. She scheduled the vote for 19 October 2023.

However, the UK Prime Minister refused to give permission for the vote. Sturgeon asked Scotland's Lord Advocate to ask the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom if the Scottish Government could hold a referendum without UK approval. The Supreme Court later ruled that the Scottish Parliament did not have this power.

Sturgeon then said that the next UK general election would be a "de facto" (in practice) referendum on independence.

Resignation

On 15 February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning as First Minister and leader of the SNP. She said the job "takes its toll" and she believed her successor would lead Scotland to independence.

Domestic Issues

Education Performance

In 2015, Sturgeon said that education would be her main focus. She wanted to close the "attainment gap" between children from richer and poorer families in Scottish schools. She said she wanted to be judged on her success in this area.

However, in 2021, a report found that progress on closing this gap had been limited. In some areas, the gap had even grown wider.

International Relations

While foreign policy is usually handled by the UK government, Sturgeon made several visits abroad. She traveled to Europe, North America, and Asia to promote Scotland for investment and trade.

European Union

After the Brexit vote, Sturgeon visited Brussels to discuss Scotland's interests with EU leaders. The Scottish Government published a document called Scotland's Place in Europe. This paper outlined Scotland's goals for its relationship with Europe after Brexit.

Sturgeon also called for more powers for the Scottish Parliament, especially regarding immigration and trade, because of Brexit.

United States

Sturgeon was critical of Donald Trump during his presidency. She had previously removed him from an ambassadorial role for Scottish businesses. She said he was "not fit" for the role after comments he made about Muslims.

Spain

Sturgeon supported Catalonia in Spain holding its own independence referendum. The Spanish government criticized her for this. Sturgeon said Spain should follow the example of the Edinburgh Agreement, which allowed Scotland to hold a legal referendum.

Political Views

Scottish Independence

Nicola Sturgeon has supported Scottish independence since she was a teenager. She believes Scotland should become an independent country. She has said that a second referendum should only happen if there is clear public support for it.

Monarchy

Sturgeon supports the idea of a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch has limited powers. She has praised Queen Elizabeth II for her dedication and public service. After the Queen's death, Sturgeon led tributes, calling her the "greatest constant in our national life."

Economic Policy

Sturgeon has often criticized the UK government's "austerity" policies, which involve cutting public spending. She has called these policies "morally unjustifiable."

Social Issues

Women's Rights

Sturgeon is a feminist and has campaigned for women's rights and gender equality. She believes Scotland's feminist movement is important for promoting equality. She has spoken out against misogynistic behavior (hatred or dislike of women).

Transgender Rights

Sturgeon's government proposed changes to the law that would make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender. These changes were delayed due to opposition and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Parliament passed the bill in December 2022, but the UK Government blocked it.

Nuclear Weapons

Sturgeon has campaigned against replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Views on Conservative Government Policies

Sturgeon has been very critical of the Conservative government. She once said she "detests" their policies. She also strongly criticized Boris Johnson during his time as Prime Minister. She said he was "a disgrace to the office."

Post-Premiership (2023–present)

After resigning as First Minister, Sturgeon returned to being an MSP for Glasgow Southside.

SNP Finance Inquiry

During Sturgeon's time as SNP leader, Police Scotland launched an investigation into the party's finances. This inquiry looked into how money raised for independence campaigning was spent.

On 5 April 2023, Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, who was the SNP's former chief executive, was arrested as part of the investigation. He was later released without charge. On 11 June 2023, Nicola Sturgeon herself was arrested for questioning in connection with the investigation. She was also released without charge later that day.

COVID-19 Inquiry

Sturgeon is facing questions about her WhatsApp messages during the pandemic. It was revealed that her messages had been deleted, even though she had been asked to keep all information for the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

Awards and Acknowledgements

Sturgeon won the Scottish Politician of the Year Award five times: in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2019.

Forbes magazine ranked her as the 50th most powerful woman in the world in 2016. BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour named her the most powerful woman in the UK in 2015.

Personal Life

Nicola Sturgeon lives in Glasgow with her husband, Peter Murrell. They got married on 16 July 2010. On 13 January 2025, Sturgeon announced that they had separated.

She is known for her love of reading fiction, which she says helps her deal with the stresses of her work.

Her mother, Joan, was also involved in politics and served as a local councillor.

Images for kids

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  Sturgeon as Deputy First Minister speaking at Fort William, 2011