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| Nicola Sturgeon: The story so far of Scotland's first minister | Nicola Sturgeon: The story so far of Scotland's first minister |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon was born in 1970 in Ayrshire | Nicola Sturgeon was born in 1970 in Ayrshire |
| As Nicola Sturgeon becomes Scotland's longest-serving first minister, BBC Scotland looks at how a girl from a west coast council estate rose to the nation's highest office. | As Nicola Sturgeon becomes Scotland's longest-serving first minister, BBC Scotland looks at how a girl from a west coast council estate rose to the nation's highest office. |
| Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, in 1970, she grew up during what she called "the dark days of the Thatcher era". | Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, in 1970, she grew up during what she called "the dark days of the Thatcher era". |
| She joined the SNP at 16, persuaded by the argument Scotland could only get the government it voted for if it was independent. | She joined the SNP at 16, persuaded by the argument Scotland could only get the government it voted for if it was independent. |
| She was educated at Greenwood Academy | She was educated at Greenwood Academy |
| Her first taste of political campaigning was the 1987 election - after walking half a mile or so to the home of the local SNP candidate to offer help. | Her first taste of political campaigning was the 1987 election - after walking half a mile or so to the home of the local SNP candidate to offer help. |
| She went on to study law at Glasgow University before working as a lawyer. | She went on to study law at Glasgow University before working as a lawyer. |
| Aged 22, when Ms Sturgeon first stood (albeit unsuccessfully) for office, in the 1992 general election, she was Scotland's youngest candidate. | Aged 22, when Ms Sturgeon first stood (albeit unsuccessfully) for office, in the 1992 general election, she was Scotland's youngest candidate. |
| The next general election, in 1997, saw Ms Sturgeon lose out on the Glasgow Govan seat to Mohammed Sarwar (the father of current Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar). | The next general election, in 1997, saw Ms Sturgeon lose out on the Glasgow Govan seat to Mohammed Sarwar (the father of current Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar). |
| Pictured here in 1992, at the Scotland United rally in Glasgow's George Square, with former MP George Galloway and singer and independence activist Pat Kane | Pictured here in 1992, at the Scotland United rally in Glasgow's George Square, with former MP George Galloway and singer and independence activist Pat Kane |
| Her entry into full-time politics came when she was elected to the new Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a Glasgow regional MSP. | Her entry into full-time politics came when she was elected to the new Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a Glasgow regional MSP. |
| She was 29, and has since admitted to being "a bit po-faced". | She was 29, and has since admitted to being "a bit po-faced". |
| Ms Sturgeon has never revealed much about her private life. But in 2003, word spread that she was seeing SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell. | Ms Sturgeon has never revealed much about her private life. But in 2003, word spread that she was seeing SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell. |
| The pair had met when she was a teenager, at an SNP youth weekend in Aberdeenshire. | The pair had met when she was a teenager, at an SNP youth weekend in Aberdeenshire. |
| It would be 15 years before they stepped out as a couple, and they went on to marry in 2010. | It would be 15 years before they stepped out as a couple, and they went on to marry in 2010. |
| Years of speculation about why the couple never had children followed. But she has since revealed she had experienced a miscarriage in 2011. | Years of speculation about why the couple never had children followed. But she has since revealed she had experienced a miscarriage in 2011. |
| Nicola Sturgeon married Peter Murrell in 2010 | Nicola Sturgeon married Peter Murrell in 2010 |
| After John Swinney stepped down as SNP leader in 2004, she announced her intention to run. | After John Swinney stepped down as SNP leader in 2004, she announced her intention to run. |
| Kenny MacAskill (who has since left the party to join Alex Salmond's Alba party) was to stand as her deputy. | Kenny MacAskill (who has since left the party to join Alex Salmond's Alba party) was to stand as her deputy. |
| When asked if he would consider running for leader again, Alex Salmond memorably declared: "If nominated I'll decline. If drafted I'll defer. And if elected I'll resign." | When asked if he would consider running for leader again, Alex Salmond memorably declared: "If nominated I'll decline. If drafted I'll defer. And if elected I'll resign." |
| But polling suggested Ms Sturgeon would lose and she and Mr Salmond decided to run on a joint ticket. They won. | But polling suggested Ms Sturgeon would lose and she and Mr Salmond decided to run on a joint ticket. They won. |
| Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon won the SNP leadership contest in 2004 | Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon won the SNP leadership contest in 2004 |
| She became Holyrood leader, facing Jack McConnell at FMQs every week, while Salmond was at Westminster. | She became Holyrood leader, facing Jack McConnell at FMQs every week, while Salmond was at Westminster. |
| The SNP went on to win the 2007 Holyrood election, with Ms Sturgeon winning Glasgow Govan from Labour's Gordon Jackson - the QC who went on to represent Alex Salmond during his sexual assault trial. | The SNP went on to win the 2007 Holyrood election, with Ms Sturgeon winning Glasgow Govan from Labour's Gordon Jackson - the QC who went on to represent Alex Salmond during his sexual assault trial. |
| Her first big test in government came when she was deputy first minister and health secretary, as swine flu was declared a pandemic. | Her first big test in government came when she was deputy first minister and health secretary, as swine flu was declared a pandemic. |
| After the first UK cases were confirmed in Scotland, her incisive TV briefings became a fixture on news channels - good preparation for the hundreds of briefings she would go on to front during the Covid pandemic, over a decade later. | After the first UK cases were confirmed in Scotland, her incisive TV briefings became a fixture on news channels - good preparation for the hundreds of briefings she would go on to front during the Covid pandemic, over a decade later. |
| Further electoral success followed in 2011, when the SNP won an unprecedented majority at Holyrood. | Further electoral success followed in 2011, when the SNP won an unprecedented majority at Holyrood. |
| Nicola Sturgeon was responsible for the Scottish government's referendum planning | Nicola Sturgeon was responsible for the Scottish government's referendum planning |
| She then took on the job of "Yes Minister" - overseeing planning for the independence referendum. | She then took on the job of "Yes Minister" - overseeing planning for the independence referendum. |
| But the Scottish electorate rejected independence, 55% to 45%, leading Alex Salmond to quit. | But the Scottish electorate rejected independence, 55% to 45%, leading Alex Salmond to quit. |
| Ms Sturgeon took over from her mentor, after more of a coronation that a contest. | Ms Sturgeon took over from her mentor, after more of a coronation that a contest. |
| Party membership surged with her at the helm, and tens of thousands of new members signed up. | Party membership surged with her at the helm, and tens of thousands of new members signed up. |
| Electoral success followed the SNP campaigning on Sturgeon's profile | Electoral success followed the SNP campaigning on Sturgeon's profile |
| And the 2015 general election results were unprecedented, with the SNP taking 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland. | And the 2015 general election results were unprecedented, with the SNP taking 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland. |
| The trend continued in the 2016 Holyrood elections, with the SNP winning a record number of constituency seats. | The trend continued in the 2016 Holyrood elections, with the SNP winning a record number of constituency seats. |
| The Brexit vote saw the UK as a whole vote to leave the EU by 52% to 48%. While in Scotland, the split was 62% to 38% in favour of remain. | The Brexit vote saw the UK as a whole vote to leave the EU by 52% to 48%. While in Scotland, the split was 62% to 38% in favour of remain. |
| The SNP said this "material change in circumstances" was enough to justify another independence referendum. | The SNP said this "material change in circumstances" was enough to justify another independence referendum. |
| But the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, repeatedly insisted "now is not the time" for indyref2. | But the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, repeatedly insisted "now is not the time" for indyref2. |
| Ms Sturgeon won the backing of Holyrood, and sent a formal demand for a referendum. | Ms Sturgeon won the backing of Holyrood, and sent a formal demand for a referendum. |
| However, the result of the snap general election was disappointing for the SNP. They lost a third of their seats, with Alex Salmond among the high-profile casualties. | However, the result of the snap general election was disappointing for the SNP. They lost a third of their seats, with Alex Salmond among the high-profile casualties. |
| Nicola Sturgeon was cleared of breaching the ministerial code | Nicola Sturgeon was cleared of breaching the ministerial code |
| In August 2018, the Daily Record reported that allegations of sexual misconduct had been made against Alex Salmond - dating back to his time in government. | In August 2018, the Daily Record reported that allegations of sexual misconduct had been made against Alex Salmond - dating back to his time in government. |
| However, he successfully challenged the Scottish government's handling of the complaints in court. It decided the investigation was "tainted by apparent bias" and Mr Salmond was awarded more than £500,000 in legal costs. | |
| But then in January 2019, Mr Salmond was arrested and charged with a string of sexual offences. | But then in January 2019, Mr Salmond was arrested and charged with a string of sexual offences. |
| The case went to trial in March 2020, and Mr Salmond was acquitted of all 13 sexual assault charges - hours before the UK went into the coronavirus lockdown. | The case went to trial in March 2020, and Mr Salmond was acquitted of all 13 sexual assault charges - hours before the UK went into the coronavirus lockdown. |
| Mr Salmond later went on to claim there was a conspiracy against him orchestrated by those close to the first minister, and accused her of multiple rule breaches - including misleading Holyrood. She denied his claims and was cleared of breaching the ministerial code. | Mr Salmond later went on to claim there was a conspiracy against him orchestrated by those close to the first minister, and accused her of multiple rule breaches - including misleading Holyrood. She denied his claims and was cleared of breaching the ministerial code. |
| As well as damaging the pair's relationship, the affair caused a lasting rift in the SNP. | As well as damaging the pair's relationship, the affair caused a lasting rift in the SNP. |
| The first minister held hundreds of televised Covid briefings during the pandemic | The first minister held hundreds of televised Covid briefings during the pandemic |
| The Covid crisis followed hot on the heels of the Salmond saga. | |
| Many decisions following the first lockdown fell to the first minister, with her setting out her reasoning in hundreds of televised briefings. | Many decisions following the first lockdown fell to the first minister, with her setting out her reasoning in hundreds of televised briefings. |
| Her government tended to favour a more cautious approach to relaxing restrictions. | Her government tended to favour a more cautious approach to relaxing restrictions. |
| The success of this approach is yet to be conclusively proved one way or the other, but a public inquiry into how the pandemic was handled will be held later this year. | The success of this approach is yet to be conclusively proved one way or the other, but a public inquiry into how the pandemic was handled will be held later this year. |
| After more than seven years in the job, Ms Sturgeon insists she has no plans to step down yet. | After more than seven years in the job, Ms Sturgeon insists she has no plans to step down yet. |
| She has vowed to complete this parliamentary term as first minister, and promised another independence vote before by the end of 2023 - although the UK government has refused to back a second vote. | She has vowed to complete this parliamentary term as first minister, and promised another independence vote before by the end of 2023 - although the UK government has refused to back a second vote. |
| All pictures copyrighted | All pictures copyrighted |