Sturgeon memoir reshapes political landscape

Nicola Sturgeon's memoir revisits her partnership with Salmond, her stance on gender recognition, and the Covid era in a candid account

Sturgeon memoir exposes rifts with Salmond and a push to redefine independence

Nicola Sturgeon uses the memoir to look back at her time as first minister and the fallout with Alex Salmond. It covers the harassment case at the heart of their split, her claim she did not know what happened, and a theory about who leaked the initial story. The book also delves into the gender recognition debate, including the Isla Bryson case, and notes the pressure she felt in the parliament. It mentions the Police Scotland probe into SNP finances and the impact on her husband, Peter Murrell, and on her own sense of safety and trust.

The section on independence traces the 2014 campaign, media coverage, and the rethink of strategy after that vote. It also discusses the Covid period, the inquiries, and the moment she sought counselling after the crisis. Personal details are laid bare, including a miscarriage, a private life she says she hopes will stay private, and a broader reflection on how memory shapes political choices.

The memoir invites readers to see leadership as a mix of duty, vulnerability, and risk. It presents Sturgeon as someone trying to balance harsh public scrutiny with a desire to own mistakes and defend policy choices. The tone challenges the usual narrative around Salmond's legacy and the SNP, and it signals that personal history can redefine a political era.

At the same time, the book raises questions about transparency and accountability in a party facing ongoing legal and financial scrutiny. It may sharpen tensions within the SNP and among supporters and opponents alike. The piece suggests that memory and storytelling will steer future debates on independence just as much as votes or budgets.

Highlights

The book invites readers to see power as a thread running from memory into policy.