Talk:Nicola Sturgeon

Depute vs Deputy

Depute is not a mispelling, it is one of several words where there is a "kilted" change (others include Convenor to Convener). The SNP's party constitution calls her their Depute Leader, so Depute it stays — Preceding unsigned comment added by DMac1 (talk • contribs) 21:00, 28 August 2012 (UTC)

Still a stub!

The election is just around the corner guys! Any chance of expanding this, and referencing it, so that we can de-stub it? -- Mais oui! 13:09, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

• I've upgraded to start following some expansion. Thunderwing 21:19, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Picture

I've uploaded a free use pic that I took. I know it's not great but it's a bit strange not having a pic of the deputy first minister in her article. GiollaUidir 13:41, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

Handling of Swine 'flu outbreaks

Any thoughts on the new Swine 'flu section? When I first encountered it it was unreferenced and fairly stubby; I added a ref from the BBC confirming that Sturgeon was Health Secretary and hence reporting on the issue, but noted in my edit summary that I didn't feel the section was particularly valuable. Since then another editor has removed the section, the section has been reinstated, I've removed it, and it's been reinstated again (by the same editor who initially added it and then re-added it).

My feeling is that there's very little useful information here - sure, she's Health Secretary and hence reports on the issue, but beyond that she's not doing anything amazing - she's simply doing what numerous other similar politicians are doing. My feeling is at the moment there's nothing particularly notable about her handling of the issue, and that the section should go. Thoughts?

Cheers, This flag once was red^propaganda_deeds 17:45, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

No, her handling of the crisis has seen her international profile soar. She has been reported around the world on the issue. It may not need a seperate section per se, but has the most significant thing in her career to date, she needs referenced. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.6.12.212 (talk) 17:49, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I think it's "handling" I disagree with - and this could just be a complete lack of references. As far as I can see, she's reported the issue, and since Scotland had a few cases she possibly gained some international media exposure (I don't know; there were cases in New Zealand but I didn't see Kiwi Health officials on Scottish TV, and - as previously mentioned - the whole section is largely unreferenced). I'd suggest it's far too early to comment on her handling - once she does something beyond reporting then a section might be justified. Cheers, This flag once was red^propaganda_deeds 17:56, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

I removed it entirely because at the moment there is not alot we can say on the matter apart from the fact she is doing her job which seems pretty pointless. Perhaps in a few weeks time if the outbreak has led to a change in public opinion of her or something then it may be justified but i think its too early to tell. I notice Alan Johnsons article does not have any mention of the swine flu outbreak.

If this is really important to some people perhaps it would be better if a small section was made on her role incharge of health in Scotland, where it could say what she has done including a mention of swine flu, rather than a single sentence on its own. BritishWatcher (talk) 19:03, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Or perhaps what we should do is remove "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 is 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." from the Deputy leader section and place it under a new section on "In government" or something along those lines. Where her roles can be mentioned including the fact she held office during the swine flu outbreak. BritishWatcher (talk) 19:08, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

The latter option in particular works for me, though I'd be happy with the former provided Sturgeon's role is referenced. Cheers, This flag once was red^propaganda_deeds 09:09, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

• I've removed the section heading, incorporating the text into the previous section ("Deputy Leader"). I'm still tempted to remove the text altogether, but I'll wait and see whether any references are forthcoming. Cheers, This flag once was red^propaganda_deeds 16:09, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Scottish or British?

This question comes up quite frequently re Scottish politicians and there may no indisputably correct answer. But it would appear that "Scotland" and "Scottish" are used for most of them, and have become well established in this article. Recent edits appear to be being directed by a single user using multiple IPs and probably in support of a unionist agenda. Contributions to this page from that user would be more helpful.

Re nationality, see our article on that subject, especially the third and fourth paragraphs in the lede section. Viewfinder (talk) 17:07, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

Article Introduction is Confusing

The article introduction is about as confusing as one could possibly make it. Why is that? What steps in logic are missing? Stevenmitchell (talk) 14:19, 24 November 2013 (UTC)

Mugshot

Does anybody have a better picture of NS for the lead? The existing picture is at least 10 years old and is also extremely unflattering, despite apparently being sourced from the SNP. She doesn't look anything like that today. --Ef80 (talk) 20:54, 24 September 2014 (UTC)

I suspect we'll get more stuff now she's first minister, so it should become easier to find something more recent. This is Paul (talk) 14:23, 19 November 2014 (UTC)

Refdump

• Black, Andrew (19 November 2014). "The Nicola Sturgeon story". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
• "Family and friends speak about the Nicola Sturgeon they know". BBC News. BBC. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
• Kennedy, Doug (19 November 2014). "Nicola Sturgeon's first day as first minister". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2014.

Photo

We need an encyclopedic image which is free for the infobox. Is the current one intended as a joke? --John (talk) 19:25, 19 November 2014 (UTC)

Sturgeon Government

Just wondering whether it's worth starting Sturgeon Government as a spin-off article. I created it yesterday as a redirect to Government of the 4th Scottish Parliament#Sturgeon Government but suspect there'll soon be enough information about her First Ministership for a standalone piece. I have in mind using something like Australia's Abbott Government as a model, which gives quite a lot of detail on that administration. Also, I feel this sort of thing wouldn't be unprecedented, as we have one or two articles on governments of Canadian provinces, Premiership of John Edward Brownlee being an example. Any thoughts? This is Paul (talk) 14:50, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

Date of First Ministership

Sturgeon officially became first minister on the 20th of November, not the 19th. On the 19th she was the Scottish Parliament's nominee for the role, but had neither received royal assent nor been sworn in in the Court of Session, thus officially did not hold the post.

Can you find a source for that? This is Paul (talk) 23:10, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

The Scottish Government website listed Ms Sturgeon as "First Minister Designate" from her nominstion by parliament on the 19th until after she appeared before the court on the 20th. The presiding officer of the parliament also clearly addressed her as "the first minister designate" during the session on the 19th.

Middle name in lead

I really don't think this belongs here. She does not use her middle name. --John (talk) 15:05, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

Well, when a Google search of "Nicola Ferguston Sturgeon" presents this article as the top hit, then I tend to agree. The same issue came up with Johann Lamont, and in both cases their middle names are virtually unused in media. This is Paul (talk) 15:56, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

Just checking. --John (talk) 16:12, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

Nobody ever referred to Donald Dewar as "Donald Campbell Dewar", Henry McLeish as "Henry Baird McLeish", Jack McConnell as "Jack Wilson McConnell" or Alex Salmond as "Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond" either. However, each of those former First Ministers are referred to by their full name in the lead on each of their respective articles. If that is the case with all four of them, why should Ms Sturgeon's lead be different? I suggest either her middle name stays, or all of their middle names are also removed. Also, Gordon Brown's lead is "James Gordon Brown", and when is he ever referred to as that? I think it is better if this articles lead is consistent with the usage which seems to be most common i.e. the full name. Reefyj (talk)

Semi-protected edit request on 23 November 2014

see here Nicola became first minister on 20th not 19th please correct 178.17.70.1 (talk) 14:31, 23 November 2014 (UTC)

 Done. Have also expanded the article to explain that she was elected on 19 November, and officially sworn in the following day. This is Paul (talk) 19:21, 23 November 2014 (UTC)

She was elected as the Nominee! Please revert

elected as the nominee? source says she was elected to first minister Cannolis (talk) 22:53, 24 November 2014 (UTC)

Religion

Sturgeon is described as having "Church of Scotland" as her religion. Yet there appears no evidence in the body of the article to this effect. Is this really the case? In the absence of evidence, ought this not to be removed? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Chris McLaughlin (talk • contribs) 00:53, 8 March 2015 (UTC)