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| Nicola Sturgeon: Salmond's deputy is on the brink of unprecedented power | Nicola Sturgeon: Salmond's deputy is on the brink of unprecedented power |
| (8 months later) | |
| When the Borgen actor Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays the charismatic fictional Danish prime minister Birgitte Nyborg, was due at a screening of the hit TV show in Edinburgh last summer, it was of considerable interest to the office of Nicola Sturgeon. | When the Borgen actor Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays the charismatic fictional Danish prime minister Birgitte Nyborg, was due at a screening of the hit TV show in Edinburgh last summer, it was of considerable interest to the office of Nicola Sturgeon. |
| Emails from the Scottish deputy first minister's office, some marked "importance high", which were disclosed by a freedom of information request, revealed Sturgeon was very keen to adapt her diary to meet Knudsen at the screening. | Emails from the Scottish deputy first minister's office, some marked "importance high", which were disclosed by a freedom of information request, revealed Sturgeon was very keen to adapt her diary to meet Knudsen at the screening. |
| Sturgeon, 44, who had regularly tweeted about the show as episodes went out on a Saturday night, had described it as "one of the most credible fictional accounts of life in politics that I've seen on television, and it's from a woman's perspective too, which is rare." | Sturgeon, 44, who had regularly tweeted about the show as episodes went out on a Saturday night, had described it as "one of the most credible fictional accounts of life in politics that I've seen on television, and it's from a woman's perspective too, which is rare." |
| Many believe that Sturgeon herself is now destined to become one of those rare female leaders, with its being a question of "when" and not "if" she becomes the first minister of Scotland, regardless of the result in the independence referendum on 18 September. | Many believe that Sturgeon herself is now destined to become one of those rare female leaders, with its being a question of "when" and not "if" she becomes the first minister of Scotland, regardless of the result in the independence referendum on 18 September. |
| While Scotland's current first minster, Alex Salmond, 59, has said he intends to serve out his term regardless of the result, few doubt that Sturgeon's time will come. | While Scotland's current first minster, Alex Salmond, 59, has said he intends to serve out his term regardless of the result, few doubt that Sturgeon's time will come. |
| "She is the heir apparent," says one Holyrood-watcher, "but she has to avoid getting whatever Gordon Brown suffered from." But those who know the pair well say that their relationship is nothing like that of Blair and Brown: they genuinely like and respect each other, and have moved from mentor/mentee to a partnership of equals. | "She is the heir apparent," says one Holyrood-watcher, "but she has to avoid getting whatever Gordon Brown suffered from." But those who know the pair well say that their relationship is nothing like that of Blair and Brown: they genuinely like and respect each other, and have moved from mentor/mentee to a partnership of equals. |
| "Joined at the hip," is how one Labour insider characterises their relationship noting that, while putting Sturgeon in charge of the referendum campaign might be a smart way of making sure she gets some of the blame in the event of a no vote, there has been no indication of any difference of views on strategy between her and Salmond. "But she's clearly limbering up on the sidelines." | "Joined at the hip," is how one Labour insider characterises their relationship noting that, while putting Sturgeon in charge of the referendum campaign might be a smart way of making sure she gets some of the blame in the event of a no vote, there has been no indication of any difference of views on strategy between her and Salmond. "But she's clearly limbering up on the sidelines." |
| Experts says the management of that transition and its effect on the SNP as an electoral force are likely to create some of the greatest tensions in Scottish politics post-referendum. | Experts says the management of that transition and its effect on the SNP as an electoral force are likely to create some of the greatest tensions in Scottish politics post-referendum. |
| Sturgeon makes no secret of being to the left of Salmond, and is known to be the only person in cabinet who can disagree with him and get away with it. They have argued over SNP policy on Nato and corporation tax; most recently over Salmond's lack of clarity on currency union. Sturgeon was seen shaking her head at the first minister's bizarre line of questioning about aliens as she watched the first Salmond v Alistair Darling TV debate live at Glasgow's Conservatoire. | Sturgeon makes no secret of being to the left of Salmond, and is known to be the only person in cabinet who can disagree with him and get away with it. They have argued over SNP policy on Nato and corporation tax; most recently over Salmond's lack of clarity on currency union. Sturgeon was seen shaking her head at the first minister's bizarre line of questioning about aliens as she watched the first Salmond v Alistair Darling TV debate live at Glasgow's Conservatoire. |
| Born in Irvine, a new town on the north Ayrshire coast, in 1970, Sturgeon joined the SNP at the age of 16, "which makes me sound like a really weird teenager", she told an Edinburgh Fringe audience last month. She described her political awakening growing up under Thatcher: "I was surrounded by boys and girls at school with a sense of hopelessness about the future." | Born in Irvine, a new town on the north Ayrshire coast, in 1970, Sturgeon joined the SNP at the age of 16, "which makes me sound like a really weird teenager", she told an Edinburgh Fringe audience last month. She described her political awakening growing up under Thatcher: "I was surrounded by boys and girls at school with a sense of hopelessness about the future." |
| She officially signed up to the party at the home of Kay Ullrich, who is now in her 49th year as an SNP member and was then running for the Cunninghame South seat in the 1987 Westminster election. "There was a knock at the door and this wee lassie was standing there. She said: 'Hello, I'm Nicola Sturgeon. Can I help you with your campaign?' You could see she was special. Five years later, she was our youngest ever candidate." | She officially signed up to the party at the home of Kay Ullrich, who is now in her 49th year as an SNP member and was then running for the Cunninghame South seat in the 1987 Westminster election. "There was a knock at the door and this wee lassie was standing there. She said: 'Hello, I'm Nicola Sturgeon. Can I help you with your campaign?' You could see she was special. Five years later, she was our youngest ever candidate." |
| Joining the SNP in the 1980s was not about having a career in politics, Sturgeon explained to the playwright David Greig, host of that recent fringe event. "There's a generation now getting involved who do expect the prospect of getting elected and being in government. My generation come into this purely out of conviction." | Joining the SNP in the 1980s was not about having a career in politics, Sturgeon explained to the playwright David Greig, host of that recent fringe event. "There's a generation now getting involved who do expect the prospect of getting elected and being in government. My generation come into this purely out of conviction." |
| It was this remark that struck Greig in retrospect. "What she seems to be is a bridge between 1950s nationalism, which might be regarded as old-fashioned tweed and tartan SNP, and the modern social democratic SNP that is being forged in Holyrood." | It was this remark that struck Greig in retrospect. "What she seems to be is a bridge between 1950s nationalism, which might be regarded as old-fashioned tweed and tartan SNP, and the modern social democratic SNP that is being forged in Holyrood." |
| When she joined the SNP she was still a student and yet to complete her law finals at Glasgow (she was the first in her family to attend university). That stern demeanour, which can still break through, may well have been evidence of a very young woman trying to be taken seriously. | When she joined the SNP she was still a student and yet to complete her law finals at Glasgow (she was the first in her family to attend university). That stern demeanour, which can still break through, may well have been evidence of a very young woman trying to be taken seriously. |
| Not only did she grow up in the SNP, she later married in it: her partner of more than a decade is the party's chief executive, Peter Murrell. (Sturgeon does not drive, and Murrell is described as her regular chauffeur to constituency events.) | Not only did she grow up in the SNP, she later married in it: her partner of more than a decade is the party's chief executive, Peter Murrell. (Sturgeon does not drive, and Murrell is described as her regular chauffeur to constituency events.) |
| Kathleen Caskie, a coordinator for Women for Independence, first encountered Sturgeon in 1988 when she worked at the SNP headquarters. "She was in her late teens and a leading light in the SNP's youth movement. Even then, she was a formidable operator. She came into her own delivering the youth vote for Alex Salmond [in his 1990 leadership contest against Margaret Ewing]. Suddenly there were all these young people wearing Salmond T-shirts – the party was still at 15% and nobody had ever seen that level of organisation for an internal campaign before. That was the stage that her relationship with him cemented." | Kathleen Caskie, a coordinator for Women for Independence, first encountered Sturgeon in 1988 when she worked at the SNP headquarters. "She was in her late teens and a leading light in the SNP's youth movement. Even then, she was a formidable operator. She came into her own delivering the youth vote for Alex Salmond [in his 1990 leadership contest against Margaret Ewing]. Suddenly there were all these young people wearing Salmond T-shirts – the party was still at 15% and nobody had ever seen that level of organisation for an internal campaign before. That was the stage that her relationship with him cemented." |
| "They present a very effective team," says Stephen Purcell, the former Labour leader of Glasgow city council, recalling a "robust disagreement" with Salmond and Sturgeon at the time of the city's Commonwealth Games bid. "They obviously knew each other's strengths, and weaknesses, and that was a tough combination." | "They present a very effective team," says Stephen Purcell, the former Labour leader of Glasgow city council, recalling a "robust disagreement" with Salmond and Sturgeon at the time of the city's Commonwealth Games bid. "They obviously knew each other's strengths, and weaknesses, and that was a tough combination." |
| For a woman often criticised for her cool demeanour, Sturgeon is frequently described as being "at the heart" of things, most notably her own constituency, where locals of both yes and no persuasions applaud her as an astonishingly available and hard-working MSP. | For a woman often criticised for her cool demeanour, Sturgeon is frequently described as being "at the heart" of things, most notably her own constituency, where locals of both yes and no persuasions applaud her as an astonishingly available and hard-working MSP. |
| Natalie McGarry, who first started campaigning for Sturgeon in Glasgow's south side in the 2011 Holyrood elections, recalls the time a constituent ushered Sturgeon into her home to meet her husband, without explaining first that the man was having a bath. Sturgeon continued the conversation through a chink in the bathroom door. Likewise, says McGarry, she's used to people opening the door chattily drunk, or in states of undress. "She understands that you have to go to people where they are." | Natalie McGarry, who first started campaigning for Sturgeon in Glasgow's south side in the 2011 Holyrood elections, recalls the time a constituent ushered Sturgeon into her home to meet her husband, without explaining first that the man was having a bath. Sturgeon continued the conversation through a chink in the bathroom door. Likewise, says McGarry, she's used to people opening the door chattily drunk, or in states of undress. "She understands that you have to go to people where they are." |
| Sturgeon withdrew her own leadership bid for the SNP in 2004 when Salmond belatedly decided to stand again. She has been explicit about her desire to be first minister, telling the Daily Record this year: "Of course that is something I would like to think that one day I will get the chance to do." She has been deputy first minister since 2007. | Sturgeon withdrew her own leadership bid for the SNP in 2004 when Salmond belatedly decided to stand again. She has been explicit about her desire to be first minister, telling the Daily Record this year: "Of course that is something I would like to think that one day I will get the chance to do." She has been deputy first minister since 2007. |
| Much has been made of Sturgeon's physical makeover in recent years – "she was a frump!", one former constituent says brutally of her early years in parliament. | Much has been made of Sturgeon's physical makeover in recent years – "she was a frump!", one former constituent says brutally of her early years in parliament. |
| Although the received wisdom is that Sturgeon softens Salmond's bruiser image, Adam Tomkins, professor of law at Glasgow University and an independent adviser to the Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, points out: "When Salmond put her in charge of the campaign in 2012, one reason was to close the gap in support for independence among women, and that has not shifted very much. One criticism is that she is better at shoring up the core vote than winning over undecideds." | Although the received wisdom is that Sturgeon softens Salmond's bruiser image, Adam Tomkins, professor of law at Glasgow University and an independent adviser to the Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, points out: "When Salmond put her in charge of the campaign in 2012, one reason was to close the gap in support for independence among women, and that has not shifted very much. One criticism is that she is better at shoring up the core vote than winning over undecideds." |
| She has been on a summer-long tour of the country, making the case for a yes vote to local activists and undecided voters almost every night of the week. The Guardian watched her at a recent campaign event in a packed hall at a community college in Livingston, West Lothian. She must have been exhausted but her focus never wavered. She was a passionate and charismatic advocate, bouncing from currency to the constitution with ease, but also human and good-humoured, reflecting the audience's anxieties and making obviously off-the-cuff – and properly funny – jokes. | She has been on a summer-long tour of the country, making the case for a yes vote to local activists and undecided voters almost every night of the week. The Guardian watched her at a recent campaign event in a packed hall at a community college in Livingston, West Lothian. She must have been exhausted but her focus never wavered. She was a passionate and charismatic advocate, bouncing from currency to the constitution with ease, but also human and good-humoured, reflecting the audience's anxieties and making obviously off-the-cuff – and properly funny – jokes. |
| She has transformed herself over the past decade, from someone widely seen as an effective but unspectacular backroom operator and a "nippy sweetie", a Scottish description – largely used by men, about women – for a spiky and sharp-tongued woman. "She has gone out of her way to dazzle everyone, not only with her ability but also her charm," says the commentator David Torrance. "It is contrived to an extent," he adds, citing the efforts she went to to appear with the Borgen star. "But she has turned it around mainly by being very good." | She has transformed herself over the past decade, from someone widely seen as an effective but unspectacular backroom operator and a "nippy sweetie", a Scottish description – largely used by men, about women – for a spiky and sharp-tongued woman. "She has gone out of her way to dazzle everyone, not only with her ability but also her charm," says the commentator David Torrance. "It is contrived to an extent," he adds, citing the efforts she went to to appear with the Borgen star. "But she has turned it around mainly by being very good." |
| "She has changed dramatically," says one long-time broadcaster. "Now she can go to a hospital ward and talk to people as if she isn't a robot. Most politicians can either talk to the public or not. She has managed to develop that style and empathy and is very convincing." | "She has changed dramatically," says one long-time broadcaster. "Now she can go to a hospital ward and talk to people as if she isn't a robot. Most politicians can either talk to the public or not. She has managed to develop that style and empathy and is very convincing." |
| Another Holyrood observer notes admiringly that she survived five years as health secretary "without a scratch".. She was liked by her officials, known to give clear instructions and to take advice when needed, although some felt that she was too cautious, failing to take on vested interests in the health sector. Sturgeon's handling of the swine flu outbreak in 2009 was widely praised, although critics noted that she held as many press conferences to impress on the public her competent handling of the crisis. "Nicola is perfectly capable of telling you how great she is," says one senior Labour figure. | Another Holyrood observer notes admiringly that she survived five years as health secretary "without a scratch".. She was liked by her officials, known to give clear instructions and to take advice when needed, although some felt that she was too cautious, failing to take on vested interests in the health sector. Sturgeon's handling of the swine flu outbreak in 2009 was widely praised, although critics noted that she held as many press conferences to impress on the public her competent handling of the crisis. "Nicola is perfectly capable of telling you how great she is," says one senior Labour figure. |
| Many take with a dose of salt Alex Salmond's stated intention to remain in post after a no vote, though others maintain that he loves being first minster and won't give it up easily. Steven Purcell predicts that, in the event of a no vote, "after a very short period Salmond will stand down, Sturgeon will assume the mantle and hit the ground running for 2016." | |
| But that won't happen without a debate about strategy, in terms of the referendum and the future of the SNP, and that debate will be in the context of how close the vote has been. | But that won't happen without a debate about strategy, in terms of the referendum and the future of the SNP, and that debate will be in the context of how close the vote has been. |
| Ultimately, the advisor Adam Tomkins believes, Sturgeon could change the face of politics after the referendum. "There are two divisions in Scottish politics: unionist/nationalist and left/right, which don't run in parallel at the moment. She will pull the political centre of gravity of the SNP to the centre left, and the geographical centre away from Aberdeen and Perth, to Glasgow. This will make life very difficult indeed for the Scottish Labour party. If she is successful as leader for some time then those two big divisions will begin to overlap, and the centre right will emerge as the main force for the union." | Ultimately, the advisor Adam Tomkins believes, Sturgeon could change the face of politics after the referendum. "There are two divisions in Scottish politics: unionist/nationalist and left/right, which don't run in parallel at the moment. She will pull the political centre of gravity of the SNP to the centre left, and the geographical centre away from Aberdeen and Perth, to Glasgow. This will make life very difficult indeed for the Scottish Labour party. If she is successful as leader for some time then those two big divisions will begin to overlap, and the centre right will emerge as the main force for the union." |
| On Thursday, Sturgeon and Salmond held a celebration in Glasgow to mark their 10-year anniversary as deputy and leader of the SNP. Inevitably, Sturgeon was asked when she wanted a go herself. "That's not in my mind at all at the moment," she said firmly. "I'm very much focused on getting people to vote yes." | |
| Asked where she imagined herself in 10 years' time, she laughed that she had no idea. If Scotland votes yes to independence, all bets are off. | Asked where she imagined herself in 10 years' time, she laughed that she had no idea. If Scotland votes yes to independence, all bets are off. |
| But if the country votes no, and Sturgeon effects the timely, orderly transition that many expect and see as typical of the SNP's disciplined orthodoxy, then a decade hence she could be leading the country into another referendum and, this time, winning it. | But if the country votes no, and Sturgeon effects the timely, orderly transition that many expect and see as typical of the SNP's disciplined orthodoxy, then a decade hence she could be leading the country into another referendum and, this time, winning it. |
| Pocket profile | Pocket profile |
| Born 19 July 1970, Irvine, north Ayrshire | Born 19 July 1970, Irvine, north Ayrshire |
| Career Joined the SNP aged 16, but worked as a solicitor for Drumchapel Law Centre before becoming an MSP in 1999. She went on to become deputy leader of the SNP in 2004 | Career Joined the SNP aged 16, but worked as a solicitor for Drumchapel Law Centre before becoming an MSP in 1999. She went on to become deputy leader of the SNP in 2004 |
| Low point Sturgeon faced calls for her resignation after it emerged that she had lobbied a court to give a non-custodial sentence to a convicted benefits fraudster | Low point Sturgeon faced calls for her resignation after it emerged that she had lobbied a court to give a non-custodial sentence to a convicted benefits fraudster |
| High point Right now. Sturgeon has been working towards a referendum on Scottish independence her whole adult life | High point Right now. Sturgeon has been working towards a referendum on Scottish independence her whole adult life |
| What she says: "I prepare very carefully for everything I do in politics: maybe it's a bit of that working-class ethos, you've got to work hard. That's how I approach everything: and there's always a little part of your brain frightened of failure." The Guardian, 2014 | What she says: "I prepare very carefully for everything I do in politics: maybe it's a bit of that working-class ethos, you've got to work hard. That's how I approach everything: and there's always a little part of your brain frightened of failure." The Guardian, 2014 |
| What they say: "I wouldn't disagree that she's given me some pretty stern advice. Nicola's a very strong corrective to my love of the cut and thrust." Alex Salmond, Radio 4's Woman's Hour, 2011 | What they say: "I wouldn't disagree that she's given me some pretty stern advice. Nicola's a very strong corrective to my love of the cut and thrust." Alex Salmond, Radio 4's Woman's Hour, 2011 |
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