Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, appears on STV's The Assembly on Friday night. What do we learn about one of Scotland's most prominent, influential and divisive politicians that might surprise us?
1 Her precise marital status
Asked what she felt about being divorced, she said: “I’m not actually divorced yet, but have separated from my husband.” In Scotland, a person can apply for a divorce after one year of separation if their spouse consents, or after two years if they do not (mygov.scot). Nicola Sturgeon announced the end of her marriage on 13 January 2025, confirming that she had been separated from her husband Peter Murrell “for some time”.
2 The public figure who gives her the pip
Asked which politician she disliked most, she said: “Right, now, that’s a hard one to choose, so I’m going to go for Nigel Farage. He’s not who he pretends to be. I think he’s got some really dodgy views. He’s only interested in himself. Sorry, Nige.”
3 She may, or may not, have had a “secret rendezvous” recently
She told the Assembly panel: “This is the only time I hope in this whole recording that I’m going to do a politician’s answer, which is… maybe. This is one of those moments when you’re going to have to judge from my body language and read between the lines.”
4 She was not fingerprinted or put in a cell after her arrest
Asked if she received “special treatment”, she said: “I didn’t do any of that, but I don’t think that was special treatment because I wasn’t charged with any offence. In Scotland, when you’re interviewed under caution about something, you’re arrested as part of that. But I don’t think anybody would have had any of those things in my circumstances.”
5 The Scottish delicacy that has never passed her lips
“I’ve never had a deep-fried Mars bar. That must be the most controversial thing I’ve ever said.”
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6 She is open to a tweakment
“I’ve never had Botox. I’m not ruling out getting it in the future.” She is, however, planning to change her hairstyle. “I’m not quite sure what yet. Bleaching it, something like that?”
7 The movie star she most resembles
“Your face and hair look a bit like Mrs Doubtfire’s,” said one of the panel, which made the former FM shriek with laughter. “I do look like Mrs Doubtfire!” she said. The questioner was worried he had offended her. “Don’t you worry,” she said. “It was really funny, I loved it. When I’m telling my friends about this, that’s going to be my funniest moment.”
8 She shares a fave song with Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord
“This is one of my favourite songs,” she said as the band struck up Dignity by Deacon Blue. Malcolm Offord said the same when he quoted from the lyrics at an event in January. Deacon Blue were quick to express their dismay, telling the Guardian: “It appals us to see the lyrics of any of our songs being used to bolster a campaign and ideology which is completely at odds with what the song, and we as a band, believe”.
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