Jump to content

Nicola Sturgeon: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
cut overlinking; improved punctuation, etc. Moved marriage part from early life to personal life
Line 91: Line 91:


===Early political career===
===Early political career===
Sturgeon joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) in 1986 and became Youth Affairs Vice Convener and Publicity Vice Convener.<ref>[http://www.snp.org/people/nicola-sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon MSP], biography on SNP website</ref> She first stood for election in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 UK election]] as the SNP's candidate in the [[Glasgow Shettleston (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Shettleston]] constituency, and was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland; she failed to win the seat.
Sturgeon joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) in 1986 {{mdash}} having already become a member of the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/apr/sturgeon-now-or-never-banish-trident|title=Sturgeon: "Now or never" to banish Trident|date=5 April 2014|accessdate=6 July 2014|publisher=Scottish National Party}}</ref> {{mdash}} and became Youth Affairs Vice Convener and Publicity Vice Convener.<ref>[http://www.snp.org/people/nicola-sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon MSP], biography on SNP website</ref> According to her, industrial destruction and soaring unemployment under the [[premiership of Margaret Thatcher]] in the 1980s strongly shaped her politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-3819087|title=Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon returns to her home town to explain how independence will lead to a better Scotland|date=6 July 2014|accessdate=6 July 2014|publisher=''Daily Record''}}</ref> She first stood for election in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 UK election]] as the SNP's candidate in the [[Glasgow Shettleston (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Shettleston]] constituency, and was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland; she failed to win the seat.


The [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]] saw Sturgeon selected to fight the [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] seat for the SNP. Boundary changes meant that the notional [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] majority in the seat had increased substantially; however, infighting between the two rival candidates for the Labour nomination, [[Mohammed Sarwar]] and [[Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie|Mike Watson]], along with an energetic local campaign, resulted in Glasgow Govan being the only Scottish seat to see a swing away from Labour in the midst of a Labour [[Landslide victory|landslide]] UK-wide.
The [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]] saw Sturgeon selected to fight the [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] seat for the SNP. Boundary changes meant that the notional [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] majority in the seat had increased substantially; however, infighting between the two rival candidates for the Labour nomination, [[Mohammed Sarwar]] and [[Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie|Mike Watson]], along with an energetic local campaign, resulted in Glasgow Govan being the only Scottish seat to see a swing away from Labour in the midst of a Labour [[Landslide victory|landslide]] UK-wide.
Line 118: Line 118:
===Scottish independence===
===Scottish independence===


Sturgeon joined the SNP at the age of sixteen and has been working for an independent Scotland ever since.<ref>http://www.snp.org/people/nicola-sturgeon</ref> In 2012, she was appointed as the person to try and persuade Scottish voters to vote "Yes" in the 2014 Referendum on Scottish independence. Sturgeon believes that independence would allow Scotland to build a stronger and more competitive country.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/25/scotland-independence-economy-grow-sturgeon | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Severin | last=Carrell | title=Scottish independence would allow economy to grow, says Sturgeon | date=25 May 2012}}</ref> In April 2014 Sturgeon stated that attacked{{unclear|date=May 2014}} the campaign to keep the Union, saying it was in "deep trouble", ahead of the independence referendum,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26939251 | work=BBC News | title=SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon says No campaign 'in deep trouble' | date=11 April 2014}}</ref> despite the campaign to keep the Union being 10% ahead in one poll.<ref>http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-independence-poll-only-28-support-yes-1-3352264</ref>
In 2012, a Scottish Government cabinet reshuffle appointed Sturgeon to a new role overseeing the [[Scottish independence referendum, 2014|upcoming referendum]] on [[Scottish independence]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19487544|title=Scottish cabinet reshuffle: Nicola Sturgeon given new independence role|date=5 September 2012|accessdate=6 July 2014|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> essentially putting her in charge of the SNP's referendum campaign.<ref name="fmjob">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-admits-sights-set-3258467|title=Nicola Sturgeon admits her sights are set on landing First Minister's job but insists winning independence referendum is top priority|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=6 July 2014|publisher=''Daily Record''}}</ref> Sturgeon believes that independence would allow Scotland to build a stronger and more competitive country,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/25/scotland-independence-economy-grow-sturgeon | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Severin | last=Carrell | title=Scottish independence would allow economy to grow, says Sturgeon | date=25 May 2012}}</ref> and change spending priorities to address "the scandal of soaring poverty in a country as rich as Scotland".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-100000-scots-poverty-3795703|title=Nicola Sturgeon: There are 100,000 Scots in poverty and Westminster want to spend billions on Trident|date=1 July 2014|accessdate=6 July 2014|publisher=''Daily Record''}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''Daily Record'', Sturgeon said she hoped to become the first female [[First Minister of Scotland]].<ref name="fmjob" />


==Awards and acknowledgements ==
==Awards and acknowledgements ==

Revision as of 13:33, 6 July 2014

Nicola Sturgeon
MSP
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
Assumed office
17 May 2007
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byNicol Stephen
Cabinet Secretary for Parliament and Government Strategy
Assumed office
5 September 2012
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byBruce Crawford
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities
Assumed office
5 September 2012
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byAlex Neil
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
In office
17 May 2007 – 5 September 2012
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byAndy Kerr
Succeeded byAlex Neil
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
Assumed office
3 September 2004
LeaderAlex Salmond
Preceded byRoseanna Cunningham
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Southside
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Preceded byConstituency created
Majority4,349 (19.2%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Govan
In office
3 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byGordon Jackson
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Majority744 (3.5%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow
In office
6 May 1999 – 3 May 2007
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byBob Doris
Personal details
Born (1970-07-19) 19 July 1970 (age 54)
Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
SpousePeter Murrell
ResidenceGlasgow
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
OccupationMember of the Scottish Parliament
ProfessionSolicitor
WebsiteOfficial website

Nicola Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Deputy First Minister of Scotland since 2007 and the Depute Leader of the SNP since 2004. She is also currently the Cabinet Secretary for Parliament and Government Strategy, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, and the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Southside.[1]

Sturgeon became an MSP in the first elections to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, becoming the SNP's spokeswoman on justice, and later on education and health. In 2004, she announced that she would stand as a candidate for the leadership of the SNP following the resignation of John Swinney. However, she later withdrew from the contest in favour of Alex Salmond, but stood as Depute Leader on a joint ticket with Salmond. Both were subsequently elected and Sturgeon led the SNP in the Scottish Parliament from 2004 to 2007 until Salmond was elected back to the Scottish Parliament in the 2007 election.

The SNP won the highest number of seats in the Scottish Parliament following the 2007 election and Salmond was subsequently appointed First Minister of Scotland. He appointed Sturgeon his Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

Early life

Nicola Sturgeon was born in Irvine, North Ayrshire and educated at Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn, and later studied law at the University of Glasgow where she graduated with an LLB (Hons) and Diploma in Legal Practice.[2] At university, she was active in the SNP student wing through Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association. She worked as a solicitor in Stirling and the Drumchapel Law Centre in Glasgow before becoming an MSP.

Political career

Early political career

Sturgeon joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1986 — having already become a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament[3] — and became Youth Affairs Vice Convener and Publicity Vice Convener.[4] According to her, industrial destruction and soaring unemployment under the premiership of Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s strongly shaped her politics.[5] She first stood for election in the 1992 UK election as the SNP's candidate in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency, and was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland; she failed to win the seat.

The 1997 general election saw Sturgeon selected to fight the Glasgow Govan seat for the SNP. Boundary changes meant that the notional Labour majority in the seat had increased substantially; however, infighting between the two rival candidates for the Labour nomination, Mohammed Sarwar and Mike Watson, along with an energetic local campaign, resulted in Glasgow Govan being the only Scottish seat to see a swing away from Labour in the midst of a Labour landslide UK-wide.

Scottish Parliament

Sturgeon stood for election to the Scottish Parliament in the 1999 and 2003 elections for the Glasgow Govan constituency. However she failed to win this constituency on both occasions. However in both elections, she was placed first in the regional list for the Glasgow region and was thus elected as an SNP additional member. She was elected to the SNP's national executive, and was appointed the party's spokeswoman for health, education and later for justice.

2004 SNP leadership contest

On 22 June 2004, John Swinney resigned as leader of the SNP, following poor results in the 2004 European Parliament election. His depute, Roseanna Cunningham, announced her intention to stand for the leadership, and previous leader Alex Salmond stated that he would not stand.[6] On 24 June 2004, Sturgeon announced that she would also be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the leadership of the SNP, with Kenny MacAskill as her running mate for the Depute leadership.[7]

However, Salmond later staged a u-turn and announced he intended to stand (to resume the leadership, which he had resigned in 2000). Sturgeon withdrew from the contest and declared her support for Salmond, standing instead for the depute leadership. It was reported that Salmond had privately supported Sturgeon in her leadership bid, but decided to run for the position himself as it became apparent she was unlikely to beat Cunningham.[8] The majority of the SNP hierarchy lent their support to the Salmond-Sturgeon bid for the leadership, although MSP Alex Neil backed Salmond as leader, but refused to endorse Sturgeon as depute leader.[9]

The results of the leadership contest were announced on 3 September 2004, with Salmond and Sturgeon elected as Leader and Depute Leader. As Salmond was still an MP in the House of Commons, Sturgeon would lead the SNP at the Scottish Parliament until the 2007 election, when Salmond was elected as an MSP.[10]

Depute Leader

Sturgeon after winning the Glasgow Govan seat at the 2007 election

As leader of the SNP in the Scottish Parliament, Nicola Sturgeon became a high profile figure in Scottish politics, and often clashed with the First Minister Jack McConnell at First Minister's Questions. 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.[11]

Sturgeon defeated Gordon Jackson with a 4.7% swing to the SNP in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary election in Glasgow Govan. The SNP won 9,010 votes (41.9%), which was an increase of +10.7%, while Labour received 8,266 votes or 38.4%. After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, Sturgeon was appointed as the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing. She was supported in this role by Shona Robison MSP, the Minister for Public Health and Sport and by Alex Neil MSP, the Minister for Housing and Communities.

Acting in her capacity as Scottish Health Secretary, Sturgeon had a key role reporting the Scottish Government's response to the 2009 swine flu outbreak.[12]

In December 2012, at Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, Sturgeon launched the Caledonian MacBrayne hybrid vessel MV Hallaig. [13]

Scottish independence

In 2012, a Scottish Government cabinet reshuffle appointed Sturgeon to a new role overseeing the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence,[14] essentially putting her in charge of the SNP's referendum campaign.[15] Sturgeon believes that independence would allow Scotland to build a stronger and more competitive country,[16] and change spending priorities to address "the scandal of soaring poverty in a country as rich as Scotland".[17]

In an interview with the Daily Record, Sturgeon said she hoped to become the first female First Minister of Scotland.[15]

Awards and acknowledgements

Sturgeon won the Scottish Politician of the Year Award in 2008. In 2004 and 2008 she also won the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year award at the same event which is organised by The Herald newspaper.

In February 2013 she was assessed as the 20th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[18]

Personal life

Sturgeon currently lives in Glasgow with her husband Peter Murrell, who is the current chief executive of the (SNP).[19] They announced their engagement on 29 January 2010 and married on 16 July 2010. Her mother, Joan, is SNP Provost of North Ayrshire Council, where she has been councillor for the Irvine East ward since 2007.

Sturgeon is a fan of the Danish political drama Borgen, which she has described as "a drama but with an authentic twist. As a politician I can relate to it."[20] In February 2013 she interviewed Sidse Babett Knudsen, the actress who played fictional prime minister Birgitte Nyborg for STV's Scotland Tonight when the second series finale was screened at the Edinburgh Filmhouse to promote its DVD release.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ http://www.snp.org/people/nicola-sturgeon
  2. ^ "Candidates and Constituency Assessments". Alba.org.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Sturgeon: "Now or never" to banish Trident". Scottish National Party. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. ^ Nicola Sturgeon MSP, biography on SNP website
  5. ^ [www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-3819087 "Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon returns to her home town to explain how independence will lead to a better Scotland"]. Daily Record. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Under-fire SNP leader resigns". BBC News. 22 June 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Sturgeon contests SNP leadership". BBC News. 24 June 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  8. ^ Swanson, Ian. "Edinburgh News- "Salmond in shock bid for leader"". Edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  9. ^ Denholm, Andrew. "Scotsman.com- "Salmond's arch-rival buries hatchet with declaration of support"". Thescotsman.scotsman.com. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Salmond named as new SNP leader". BBC News. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Parties clash on Trident and tax". BBC News. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  12. ^ "news.bbc.co.uk". news.bbc.co.uk. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  13. ^ Nicola Sturgeon launches pioneering hybrid ferry from Port Glasgow shipyard
  14. ^ "Scottish cabinet reshuffle: Nicola Sturgeon given new independence role". BBC News. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Nicola Sturgeon admits her sights are set on landing First Minister's job but insists winning independence referendum is top priority". Daily Record. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Carrell, Severin (25 May 2012). "Scottish independence would allow economy to grow, says Sturgeon". The Guardian. London.
  17. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon: There are 100,000 Scots in poverty and Westminster want to spend billions on Trident". Daily Record. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Power list
  19. ^ http://www.snp.org/people/nicola-sturgeon
  20. ^ a b Whitaker, Andrew (4 February 2013). "Borgen's Filmhouse finale wows Edinburgh". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  21. ^ "Deputy First Minister interviews Borgen PM for Scotland Tonight". STV News. STV. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
Template:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:Incumbent succession box
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow
1999–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Party political offices

Template:Incumbent succession box

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicola_Sturgeon&oldid=615818477"