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{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = Nicola Sturgeon
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]
| image = File:Nicola Sturgeon 2021.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2021
| order = <!--Order is used for U.S. politicians. Please do not add.-->
| office = [[First Minister of Scotland]]
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| deputy = [[John Swinney]]
| term_start = 20 November 2014
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Alex Salmond]]
| successor =
| office1 = [[Leader of the Scottish National Party]]
| deputy1 = {{ubl|[[Stewart Hosie]]|[[Angus Robertson]]|[[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]}}
| term_start1 = 14 November 2014
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Alex Salmond
| successor1 =
| office2 = [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland]]
| firstminister2 = Alex Salmond
| term_start2 = 17 May 2007
| term_end2 = 19 November 2014
| predecessor2 = [[Nicol Stephen, Baron Stephen|Nicol Stephen]]
| successor2 = John Swinney
| office3 = [[Scottish National Party#Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party|Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party]]
| leader3 = Alex Salmond
| term_start3 = 3 September 2004
| term_end3 = 14 November 2014
| predecessor3 = [[Roseanna Cunningham]]
| successor3 = [[Stewart Hosie]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Ministerial offices
|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]]
| firstminister4 = Alex Salmond
| term_start4 = 5 September 2012
| term_end4 = 19 November 2014
| predecessor4 = [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]]
| successor4 = [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]
| office5 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]
| firstminister5 = Alex Salmond
| term_start5 = 17 May 2007
| term_end5 = 5 September 2012
| predecessor5 = [[Andy Kerr (Scottish politician)|Andy Kerr]]
| successor5 = [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Parliamentary offices
|cont=yes |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]<br />for [[Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Southside]]<br /> {{nobold|[[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (2007–2011)}}
| term_start = 3 May 2007
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Gordon Jackson (politician)|Gordon Jackson]]
| successor =
| majority = 9,593 (38.5%)
| office1 = Member of the Scottish Parliament<br />for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}
| term_start1 = 6 May 1999
| term_end1 = 3 May 2007
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| birth_name = Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|7|19}}
| birth_place = [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], [[Ayrshire]], Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| signature = 20200228180454!Signature of Nicola Sturgeon - Edited.png
| party = [[Scottish National Party]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Peter Murrell]]|16 July 2010}}
| parents = {{ubl|Robin Sturgeon|Joan Kerr Ferguson}}
| residence = [[Bute House]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Glasgow]]
| cabinet = [[First Sturgeon government|1st]] [[Second Sturgeon government|2nd]] [[Third Sturgeon government|3rd]]
| website = [https://firstminister.gov.scot/ First Minister of Scotland]
| footnotes = {{notelist}}
}}
{{Nicola Sturgeon Sidebar}}
'''Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon''' (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician serving as [[First Minister of Scotland]] and [[Leader of the Scottish National Party]] (SNP) since 2014. She is the first woman to hold either position. She has been a [[member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) since 1999, first as an [[additional member system|additional member]] for the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow electoral region]], and as the member for [[Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Southside]] (formerly [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]]) from 2007.
A law graduate of the [[University of Glasgow]], Sturgeon worked as a [[solicitor]] in [[Glasgow]]. After being elected to the Scottish Parliament, she served successively as the SNP's shadow minister for education, health, and justice. 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]], standing instead as [[wikt:depute|depute]] (deputy)<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> leader on a joint ticket with Salmond. Both were subsequently elected, and as Salmond was still an MP in the House of Commons, Sturgeon led the SNP in the Scottish Parliament as [[Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)|Leader of the Opposition]] from 2004 to 2007. The SNP won the highest number of seats in the Scottish Parliament in [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|the 2007 election]] and Salmond was subsequently appointed first minister. He appointed Sturgeon as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] and [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]. She was appointed as [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]] in 2012.
Following the defeat of the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Salmond resigned and Sturgeon was [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|elected unopposed as SNP leader in November 2014]] and appointed as first minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resignation-nicola-sturgeon-destiny|title=Alex Salmond's resignation could give Nicola Sturgeon her day of destiny|author=Libby Brooks|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209154913/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resignation-nicola-sturgeon-destiny|archive-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|title=The transition from Alex Salmond to Nicola Sturgeon|first=Glenn|last=Campbell|work=BBC News|date=13 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117032228/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> Sturgeon led the SNP through the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] when it enjoyed a surge in support, recording a number of swings of over 30% from Labour, as it won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats and replaced the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] as the third-largest party in the [[British House of Commons]]. In the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016 election]], the SNP was returned as the largest single party in the [[Scottish Parliament]] but fell two seats short of a majority. Sturgeon secured a second term as first minister, forming an SNP [[minority government]]. In the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 UK referendum on EU membership]], Scotland voted by 62% to remain in the [[European Union]], despite [[Brexit]] receiving 52% of the vote across the UK.{{efn|In the [[Brexit referendum]], a majority of voters in every local authority area in Scotland voted to remain in 2016.}} Both before<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/07/snp-independence-referendum-wins-scottish-parliamentary-elections-nicola-sturgeon |title=SNP could hold independence referendum if it wins in 2016 |author=Severin Carrell |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|title=Sturgeon: Second referendum 'if and when Scotland wants it' |work=BBC News|date=31 July 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> and after the vote to leave the EU, Sturgeon's government has repeatedly [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|advocated for a second referendum on independence]]. The SNP gained a seat in the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], winning 64 seats, but fell one seat short of a majority. Sturgeon’s government subsequently entered [[Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement|a power-sharing agreement]] with the [[Scottish Greens]]. As First Minister, Sturgeon has been leading the [[Scottish Government]]'s response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland]] since 2020.
==Early life ==
=== Birth and family ===
Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/29961.aspx|title=11 May Vol. 1, No. 1 Session 4|date=23 June 2011|website=www.scottish.parliament.uk|access-date=28 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130014/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/29961.aspx|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> was born in [[Ayrshire Central Hospital]] in [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], on 19 July 1970.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lockhart |first1=Keely |last2=Daunt |first2=Joe |title=Nicola Sturgeon: SNP leader in 60 seconds |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/nicola-sturgeon-snp-leader-in-60-seconds/ |access-date=17 July 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813144931/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/nicola-sturgeon-snp-leader-in-60-seconds/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She is the eldest of three daughters born to Joan Kerr Sturgeon (''née'' Ferguson, born 1952), a [[Registered Dental Nurse|dental nurse]], and Robin Sturgeon (born 1948), an electrician.<ref>For her parents' names: [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U36626 "Sturgeon, Nicola"], ''Who's Who 2014'', A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, Nov 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015 (subscription required).</ref> Her family has some roots in [[North East England]]; her paternal grandmother was from [[Ryhope]] in what is now the [[City of Sunderland]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-32991705|title = Sunderland roots of SNP's Nicola Sturgeon|last = Rhodes|first = David|date = 3 June 2015|work = BBC News|access-date = 3 June 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150811072159/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-32991705|archive-date = 11 August 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> She grew up in [[Prestwick]] and [[Dreghorn]]. Her parents still live in the house she grew up in, which they bought from the local council under Margaret Thatcher's [[Right to Buy]] scheme.<ref name="triumph">{{citation |last=Jack |first=Ian |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=23 April 2015 |title=The triumph of Nicola Sturgeon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/the-triumph-of-nicola-sturgeon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423112841/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/the-triumph-of-nicola-sturgeon |archive-date=23 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Education and legal career ===
She attended Dreghorn Primary School from 1975 to 1982 and [[Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn|Greenwood Academy]] from 1982 to 1988. She later studied [[law]] at the [[University of Glasgow]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (Hons) in 1992 and a [[Diploma in Legal Practice]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alba.org.uk/scot07constit/g04.html |title=Candidates and Constituency Assessments |publisher=Alba.org.uk |access-date=17 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606052650/http://www.alba.org.uk/scot07constit/g04.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref> During her time at the University of Glasgow she was active as a member of the [[Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association]] and the [[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]].
Following her graduation, Sturgeon completed her legal traineeship at [[McClure Naismith]], a Glasgow firm of solicitors, in 1995. After qualifying as a [[solicitor]], she worked for Bell & Craig, a firm of solicitors in [[Stirling]], and later at the [[Drumchapel]] [[Law Centre]] in [[Glasgow]] from 1997 until her election to the [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=26 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=21 November 2017|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915002848/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>
===Early political years===
In an interview with the BBC's ''[[Woman's Hour]]'', Sturgeon revealed that it was [[Margaret Thatcher]] who inspired her to enter politics, because, due to rising unemployment in Scotland at the time, she developed "a strong feeling that it was wrong for Scotland to be governed by a Tory government that we hadn't elected".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=26 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=14 September 2017|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915002848/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>
Sturgeon joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) in 1986, having already become a member of the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]], and quickly became the party's Youth Affairs Vice Convener and Publicity Vice Convener.<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|access-date=6 July 2014|publisher=Scottish National Party|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708202748/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/apr/sturgeon-now-or-never-banish-trident|archive-date=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |title=About: Nicola Sturgeon MSP |publisher=Scottish National Party |access-date=2 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715123308/http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |archive-date=15 July 2016 }}</ref> She first stood for election in the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]] as the SNP candidate in the [[Glasgow Shettleston (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Shettleston]] constituency, and was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland, failing to win the seat.
Sturgeon also stood unsuccessfully as the SNP candidate for the Irvine North [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]] on [[Cunninghame]] District Council in May 1992, for the [[Baillieston]]/[[Mount Vernon, Glasgow|Mount Vernon]] ward on [[Strathclyde|Strathclyde Regional Council]] in 1994, and for the [[Bridgeton, Glasgow|Bridgeton]] ward on [[Glasgow City Council]] in 1995.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}
In the mid-1990s Sturgeon and [[Charles Kennedy]] went together on a political study visit to Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32975311|title=Sturgeon on Charles Kennedy 'a most talented politician'|work=BBC News|date=2 June 2015|access-date=4 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602110544/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32975311|archive-date=2 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Dathan|first1=Matt|title=Nicola Sturgeon reveals how she and Charles Kennedy watched Trainspotting together as she pays tribute to former Lib Dem leader|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-reveals-how-she-and-charles-kennedy-watched-trainspotting-together-as-she-pays-tribute-to-former-lib-dem-leader-10292645.html|website=independent.co.uk|date=2 June 2015|access-date=4 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603075431/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-reveals-how-she-and-charles-kennedy-watched-trainspotting-together-as-she-pays-tribute-to-former-lib-dem-leader-10292645.html|archive-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>
The [[1997 United Kingdom general election|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, [[Mohammad Sarwar (politician)|Mohammed Sarwar]] and [[Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie|Mike Watson]], along with an energetic local campaign,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} 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]] nationwide. Sarwar did, however, win the seat with a majority of 2,914 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/05/0505/stats.shtml|title=BBC Politics 97|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324034533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/05/0505/stats.shtml|archive-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> Shortly after this, Sturgeon was appointed as the SNP's spokesperson for energy and education matters.
==Member of the Scottish Parliament==
Sturgeon stood for election to the [[Scottish Parliament]] in the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|first Scottish Parliament election]] in 1999 as the SNP candidate for [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicola-Sturgeon|title=Nicola Sturgeon {{!}} Biography & Facts|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=21 November 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008035648/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicola-Sturgeon|archive-date=8 October 2017}}</ref> Although she failed to win the seat, she was placed first in the SNP's regional list for the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow region]], and was thus elected as a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]. During the first term of the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon served as a member of the [[Shadow Cabinet]]s of both [[Alex Salmond]] and [[John Swinney]]. She was [[Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning|Shadow Minister for Children and Education]] from 1999 to 2000. In the role she backed Labour's efforts to repeal Section 28 – a law that banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools. There was however significant public [[Keep the Clause campaign|opposition to repeal]] and an unscientific postal vote on the issue – organised by SNP donor [[Brian Souter]] – suggested most Scots wanted to keep the clause. Acknowledging this, Sturgeon suggested: "That is why the SNP have urged a policy for many months that we believe can provide people with the necessary reassurance, by providing a statutory underpinning to the guidelines, and resolve this difficult debate. We believe that the value of marriage should be clearly referred to in the guidelines, without denigrating other relationships or children brought up in other kinds of relationship." The compromise had the support of Souter but an amendment to that effect was voted down by MSPs who expressed concerns it would stigmatise children from single parent and unmarried families.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/769639.stm|title=BBC News | SCOTLAND | Poll 'backs' Section 28|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422033830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/769639.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
She also served as [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing|Shadow Minister for Health and Community Care]] from 2000 to 2003, and [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice|Shadow Minister for Justice]] from 2003 to 2004. She also served as a member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and the Health and Community Care Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/32242.aspx|title=Nicola Sturgeon|website=The Scottish Parliament|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717002405/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/32242.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Depute Leader and Leader of the Opposition ===
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon, DFM in Fort William.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon as Deputy First Minister speaking in [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], 2011]]On 22 June 2004, John Swinney resigned as Leader of the SNP following poor results in the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European Parliament election]]. His then-depute,<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> [[Roseanna Cunningham]], immediately announced her intention to stand for the leadership. The previous leader, Alex Salmond, announced at the time that he would not stand.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 June 2004|title=Under-fire SNP leader resigns|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3828657.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627024827/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3828657.stm|archive-date=27 June 2004}}</ref> On 24 June 2004, Sturgeon announced that she would also be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the leadership, with [[Kenny MacAskill]] as her running mate.<ref>{{cite news|date=24 June 2004|title=Sturgeon contests SNP leadership|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3835951.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040702040939/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3835951.stm|archive-date=2 July 2004}}</ref> The political columnist [[Iain Macwhirter]] declared that while she “didn't inspire great warmth”, she was “quick on her feet, lacks any ideological baggage and has real determination – unlike... Roseanna Cunningham”.<ref name="triumph" />
However, once Cunningham emerged as the favourite to win,<ref name="triumph" /> Salmond announced that his intention to stand for the leadership; Sturgeon subsequently withdrew from the contest and declared her support for Salmond, standing instead as his running mate for the depute<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swanson|first=Ian|title=Edinburgh News, "Salmond in shock bid for leader"|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=809422004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050921102702/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=809422004|archive-date=21 September 2005|access-date=17 January 2011|publisher=Edinburghnews.scotsman.com}}</ref> The majority of the SNP hierarchy lent their support to the Salmond–Sturgeon bid for the leadership, although MSP [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]] backed Salmond as leader, but refused to endorse Sturgeon as depute.<ref>{{cite web|last=Denholm|first=Andrew|title=Scotsman.com, "Salmond's arch-rival buries hatchet with declaration of support"|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=922912004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051101133105/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=922912004|archive-date=1 November 2005|access-date=17 January 2011|publisher=Thescotsman.scotsman.com}}</ref>
The results of the leadership contest were announced on 3 September 2004, with Salmond and Sturgeon elected as Leader and Depute<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> Leader respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Leonard|first=Ian|date=9 May 2015|title=Why does Nicola Sturgeon not have a seat in Westminster?|work=Daily Mirror|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nicola-sturgeon-not-seat-westminster-5665836|url-status=live|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817084400/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nicola-sturgeon-not-seat-westminster-5665836|archive-date=17 August 2017}}</ref> As Salmond was still an MP in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], Sturgeon led the SNP at the Scottish Parliament until the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007 election]], when Salmond was elected as an MSP.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 September 2004|title=Salmond named as new SNP leader|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3622728.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529225434/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?rnd=1622328874158&ci=bbc&cg=0&sr=1600x1000&ts=v51.js&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20NEWS%20%7C%20UK%20%7C%20Scotland%20%7C%20Salmond%20named%20as%20new%20SNP%20leader&si=http%3A//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3622728.stm&rp=|archive-date=29 May 2021}}</ref>
As leader of the SNP in the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon became a high-profile figure in Scottish politics and often clashed with [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Jack McConnell]] at [[First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)|First Minister's Questions]]. This included rows over the [[British House of Commons|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]].<ref>{{cite news|date=15 March 2007|title=Parties clash on Trident and tax|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6454509.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319190615/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6454509.stm|archive-date=19 March 2007}}</ref>
== Deputy First Minister (2007–2014) ==
[[File:Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP.jpg|left|thumb|229x229px|Official portrait as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]], 2007]]Sturgeon defeated [[Gordon Jackson (politician)|Gordon Jackson]] with a 4.7% swing to the SNP in the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007 election]] in Glasgow Govan. The election resulted in a hung parliament, with the SNP the largest party by a single seat; the SNP subsequently formed a minority government. Sturgeon was appointed as the [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] and [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] by [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] Salmond. In the position she saw through party pledges such as scrapping prescription charges and reversing [[Emergency department|accident and emergency]] closures, she also became more widely known internationally for her handling of the [[2009 flu pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|work=BBC News|date=19 November 2014|access-date=20 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212154331/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/sturgeon-snp-scotland-independence-campaign|title=Rise of Nicola Sturgeon: from 'nippy sweetie' to SNP leader?|publisher=Channel 4 News|date=24 September 2014|access-date=20 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221003604/http://www.channel4.com/news/sturgeon-snp-scotland-independence-campaign|archive-date=21 December 2014}}</ref> She was supported in her role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing by [[Shona Robison]] MSP, the [[Minister for Public Health and Sport]], and by Alex Neil MSP, the [[Minister for Housing and Communities]].
At the [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011 election]], the SNP won a large overall majority. Sturgeon was retained as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing until a reshuffle one year later, when she was appointed as [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]] and an additional role overseeing the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on]] [[Scottish independence]], essentially putting her in charge of the SNP's referendum campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19487544|title=Scottish cabinet reshuffle: Nicola Sturgeon given new independence role|date=5 September 2012|access-date=6 July 2014|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031082123/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19487544|archive-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>
In 2012 she pledged to build a high-speed railway line between Glasgow and Edinburgh by 2024, cutting journey times between the two cities to under 30 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20296195|title=High-speed rail plan for Glasgow to Edinburgh line|work=BBC News|date=12 November 2012|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420223717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20296195|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would "not wait" for Westminster to build a high-speed line to Scotland. However, in 2016 the plan was abandoned and the Scottish Government blamed Westminster.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35323728|title=High speed Glasgow-Edinburgh rail link plans 'shelved'|work=BBC News|date=15 January 2016|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420223717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35323728|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2012, Sturgeon said that she believed that independence would allow Scotland to build a stronger and more competitive country, and would change spending priorities to address "the scandal of soaring poverty in a country as rich as Scotland".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221151359/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/25/scotland-independence-economy-grow-sturgeon |archive-date=21 December 2016}}</ref>
While campaigning for a Yes vote in August 2013, she told ''[[The Guardian]]'' that if Scots voted for the Union: "Will there be another referendum round the corner? No. We can't bind our successors, but we've made very clear our belief that constitutional referenda are once-in-a-generation events."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/24/nicola-sturgeon-scotland-better-off|title=Nicola Sturgeon interview: 'I do believe Scotland can be better off'|date=24 August 2013|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519072341/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/24/nicola-sturgeon-scotland-better-off|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Scottish Independence Referendum Bill (8577251468).jpg|thumb|Sturgeon, as Deputy First Minister, signs the ''[[Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013]]'']]
In November 2013, Sturgeon joined Salmond to launch [[Scotland's Future]] - the Scottish Government's prospectus for independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25088251|title = Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled|work = BBC News|date = 26 November 2013}}</ref> Sturgeon was one of the white paper's most high profile media champions and frequently debated its contents with opposition politicians and sceptical Scots. When the British Government turned down the Scottish Government's idea of a formal currency union - on the grounds that the rationale for sharing a currency with a foreign country was "not clear" - Sturgeon accused Westminster of trying to "bully Scotland" and said it would "cost their own businesses hundreds of millions in transaction costs".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon-accuses-3137607|title=Independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon accuses Westminister of bullying over currency|date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/c064f562-93d2-11e3-bf0c-00144feab7de|title=Scottish minister Nicola Sturgeon hits back over sterling threat|newspaper=Financial Times|date=12 February 2014}}</ref>
During the campaign, the [[European Commission]] said that if Scots decided to leave the United Kingdom, it would also mean leaving the European Union. Scotland would then have to reapply for EU membership and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso predicted this would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26215963|title=Scottish independence: Barroso says joining EU would be 'difficult'|work=BBC News|date=16 February 2014|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420003054/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26215963|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2014 Sturgeon said this would put at risk the right of EU citizens to continue living in Scotland: "There are 160,000 EU nationals from other states living in Scotland, including some in the Commonwealth Games city of Glasgow. If Scotland was outside Europe, they would lose the right to stay here.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-warns-europeans-could-lose-right-stay-1531651|title=Sturgeon warns Europeans could lose right to stay|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422101738/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-warns-europeans-could-lose-right-stay-1531651|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-19|title=UK minister: Sturgeon used EU nationals as bargaining chips|url=https://stv.tv/fia/1370381-uk-minister-sturgeon-used-eu-nationals-as-bargaining-chips/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-11|website=stv.tv|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422101737/https://stv.tv/fia/1370381-uk-minister-sturgeon-used-eu-nationals-as-bargaining-chips/}}</ref>
On 19 September 2014, independence was rejected in the Scottish independence referendum, with 55.3% of the voters voting no and 44.7% voting yes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/sep/18/-sp-scottish-independence-referendum-results-in-full|title=Scottish independence referendum: final results in full|website=the Guardian|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118021834/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/sep/18/-sp-scottish-independence-referendum-results-in-full|archive-date=18 November 2014}}</ref> Following the defeat of the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign, Salmond announced his resignation as First Minister and Leader of the SNP. Sturgeon immediately announced that she would be a candidate in the election to replace him, and received huge support from the SNP hierarchy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-referendum-results-as-alex-salmond-steps-down-nicola-sturgeon-waits-for-her-chance-to-lead-9744791.html|title=Scottish referendum results: As Alex Salmond steps down, Nicola Sturgeon waits for her chance to lead|work=The Independent|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207170153/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-referendum-results-as-alex-salmond-steps-down-nicola-sturgeon-waits-for-her-chance-to-lead-9744791.html|archive-date=7 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alex-salmond-resigns-will-snp-deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-replace-him-1466335|title=Alex Salmond Resigns: Will SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Replace Him?|website=International Business Times UK|date=19 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202073510/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alex-salmond-resigns-will-snp-deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-replace-him-1466335|archive-date=2 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11106839/Scottish-independence-referendum-results-live.html|title=Scottish independence: referendum results – live – ''The Daily Telegraph''|date=19 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020202621/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11106839/Scottish-independence-referendum-results-live.html|archive-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> Sturgeon said that there would be "no greater privilege" than to lead the SNP. On Salmond's resignation, Sturgeon said:
<blockquote>The personal debt of gratitude I owe Alex is immeasurable. He has been my friend, mentor and colleague for more than 20 years. Quite simply, I would not have been able to do what I have in politics without his constant advice, guidance and support through all these years. [...] I can think of no greater privilege than to seek to lead the party I joined when I was just 16. However, that decision is not for today.</blockquote>
Following the referendum defeat, Sturgeon said that "further devolution is the route to independence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-devo-is-route-to-independence-1-3563052|title=Nicola Sturgeon: 'Devo is route to independence'|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112072433/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-devo-is-route-to-independence-1-3563052|archive-date=12 November 2014}}</ref> She also opined that Scottish independence was a matter of "when, not if".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scottish-independence-when-not-if-says-nicola-sturgeon-1468625|title='Scottish Independence is a When Not an If' says Nicola Sturgeon|website=International Business Times UK|date=6 October 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129234132/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scottish-independence-when-not-if-says-nicola-sturgeon-1468625|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
===Leadership of the Scottish National Party===
[[File:First Minister outside Bute House (15865040071).jpg|thumb|left|Sturgeon outside [[Bute House]] in Edinburgh upon her appointment as [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], 2014]]
On 24 September 2014, Sturgeon officially launched her campaign bid to succeed Salmond as Leader of the Scottish National Party at the [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|November leadership election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/24/nicola-sturgeon-campaign-succeed-alex-salmond-snp|title=Nicola Sturgeon launches campaign to succeed Alex Salmond|author=Severin Carrell|website=the Guardian|date=24 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016055030/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/24/nicola-sturgeon-campaign-succeed-alex-salmond-snp|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11117913/Nicola-Sturgeon-predicts-independence-one-day-as-she-launches-bid-to-replace-Alex-Salmond.html|title=Nicola Sturgeon predicts independence 'one day' as she launches bid to replace Alex Salmond|date=24 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063327/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11117913/Nicola-Sturgeon-predicts-independence-one-day-as-she-launches-bid-to-replace-Alex-Salmond.html|archive-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> It quickly became apparent that no other candidate would be able to receive enough required nominations to run a credible leadership campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29292324|title=BBC News – Nicola Sturgeon backed by former SNP leader Gordon Wilson to replace Salmond|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021063058/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29292324|archive-date=21 October 2014}}</ref> During the speech launching her campaign, Sturgeon announced that she would resign as Depute Leader, triggering a concurrent [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|depute leadership election]]; the MSPs [[Angela Constance]] and [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]] and the MP [[Stewart Hosie]] all nominated themselves to succeed Sturgeon as Depute Leader.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11122266/Keith-Brown-and-Stewart-Hosie-stand-for-SNP-deputy-leadership.html|title=Keith Brown and Stewart Hosie stand for SNP deputy leadership|date=25 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113145639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11122266/Keith-Brown-and-Stewart-Hosie-stand-for-SNP-deputy-leadership.html|archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/angela-constance-i-know-why-yes-campaign-failed-1-3559358|title=Angela Constance: 'I know why Yes campaign failed'|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110230439/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/angela-constance-i-know-why-yes-campaign-failed-1-3559358|archive-date=10 November 2014}}</ref>
Nominations for the SNP leadership closed on 15 October, with Sturgeon confirmed as the only candidate. SNP convener [[Derek Mackay]] publicly congratulated Sturgeon as de facto leader in waiting, saying that she would be "a fantastic new leader" for both the SNP and for Scotland.<ref name="SNP leadership elections close">{{cite web|title=SNP leadership elections close |url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/close-nominations-snp-leadership-elections |website=SNP |publisher=SNP |access-date=15 October 2014 |ref=SNP Leadership elections |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017154520/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/close-nominations-snp-leadership-elections |archive-date=17 October 2014 }}</ref> On this date, Sturgeon also came out on top in a trust rating opinion poll, conducted for the SNP, which indicated that 54% of the Scottish population trusted her to "stand up for Scotland's interests".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-tops-politician-trust-rating-poll-1-3562244|title=Nicola Sturgeon tops politician trust rating poll|work=The Scotsman|date=3 October 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113124921/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-tops-politician-trust-rating-poll-1-3562244|archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>
At a speech in Dundee's Caird Hall on 7 November, Sturgeon pledged to be "the most accessible First Minister ever" when she took over. She also promised to hold a monthly Facebook question and answer session with members of the public, regular town hall meetings and that the Scottish Cabinet would meet outside Edinburgh once every two months.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=7 November 2014 |title=Sturgeon vows to be 'most accessible' first minister ever |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29942740 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520162457/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29942740 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sturgeon was formally acclaimed as the first female Leader of the SNP on 14 November 2014 at the Autumn Conference in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], with Hosie as her depute. This also made her First Minister-Designate, given the SNP's absolute majority in the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/new-snp-leadership-team-sturgeon-and-hosie|title=New SNP leadership team: Sturgeon and Hosie|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117035008/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/new-snp-leadership-team-sturgeon-and-hosie|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> In her first speech as leader, Sturgeon said that it was "the privilege of her life" to lead the party she joined as a teenager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011423|title=SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon appointed party leader|work=BBC News|date=14 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117060615/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011423|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref>
==First Minister of Scotland==
{{Cleanup split|Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon|date=June 2021}}<!--This section is too long which resulted in the creation of a separate article for her tenure as First Minister. Do NOT remove this tag until this section is condensed.-->
{{Very long section|date=August 2021}}
{{main|Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon}}
===First term (2014–2016)===
On 18 November 2014, Salmond formally resigned as [[First Minister of Scotland]] and the election for the new first minister took place the following day. Sturgeon and [[Ruth Davidson]], the leader of the [[Scottish Conservative Party|Scottish Conservatives]], stood for election. The SNP's absolute majority made Sturgeon's election all but certain, and she received 66 votes, Davidson received 15 and there were 39 abstentions. On 20 November 2014, Sturgeon was formally sworn into office.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Nicola Sturgeon is elected first minister of Scotland|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30118626|work = BBC News|date = 19 November 2014|access-date = 28 January 2016|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150220125708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30118626|archive-date = 20 February 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-sworn-in-as-first-minister-1-3610975 |title=Nicola Sturgeon sworn in as First Minister |publisher=Johnston Press |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123073826/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-sworn-in-as-first-minister-1-3610975 |archive-date=23 November 2014 }}</ref> The same day, she was appointed to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] and therefore granted the style '[[The Right Honourable]]'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Privy Council appointments: November 2014|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-november-2014|website=Press release|publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street|access-date=16 April 2015|date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110103205/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-november-2014|archive-date=10 January 2015}}</ref> On 21 November, she unveiled her [[First Sturgeon government|Cabinet]] with a 50/50 gender balance, promoting [[Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth|Finance Secretary]] [[John Swinney]] to become her [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces Scottish cabinet with equal gender balance |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=2 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514192555/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |archive-date=14 May 2015 }}</ref>
====2015 UK general election====
Sturgeon's leadership was first tested in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 UK general election]]. She took part in several Scottish and UK-wide [[2015 United Kingdom general election debates|TV election debates]] in the run up to the election and according to opinion polls was regarded to have had a successful performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/polls-confirm-nicola-sturgeon-tv-debate-success-1-3747812 |title=Polls "confirm Nicola Sturgeon TV debate success" |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=21 April 2015 |access-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100132/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/polls-confirm-nicola-sturgeon-tv-debate-success-1-3747812 |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}</ref> The SNP went on to win a [[landslide victory]] in Scotland, with 56 out of 59 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|title=BElection 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide|work=BBC News|date=8 May 2015|access-date=29 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521003643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|archive-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> They received 50% of the vote share in Scotland and replaced the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] as the third largest party in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|British House of Commons]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many Lib Dems have lost their seats in the 2015 general election?|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/how-many-lib-dems-have-lost-their-seats-2015-general-election|access-date=2021-08-07|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=8 May 2015|language=en}}</ref> As part of the election campaign, Sturgeon indicated that the SNP would hold another independence referendum if it won the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/07/snp-independence-referendum-wins-scottish-parliamentary-elections-nicola-sturgeon |title=SNP could hold independence referendum if it wins in 2016 |author=Severin Carrell |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC News"/>
==== 2016 Scottish Parliament election ====
[[File:Meeting of new Scottish Cabinet, 2016.jpg|thumb|First meeting of the [[Second Sturgeon government]]|234x234px]]
Sturgeon led the SNP through the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]]. She campaigned on a platform of freezing tax rates – dismissing Scottish Labour's call for tax rises on the wealthy to fund public services as "reckless and daft".<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon: Income tax rise for top earners 'daft' |date=23 March 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35883054 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324070439/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35883054 |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The SNP fell two seats short of securing another overall majority, but remained the largest party in the chamber, with more than double the seats of the next-largest party, the Scottish Conservatives.<ref name="results">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36243712 |title=New MSPs to arrive at Holyrood for first day |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509101055/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36243712 |archive-date=9 May 2016 }}</ref><ref name="map">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-36215186 |title=Election 2016: Before-and-after and party strength maps |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=6 May 2016 |access-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509104930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-36215186 |archive-date=9 May 2016 }}</ref>
===Second term (2016–2021)===
Sturgeon was formally nominated for a second term on 17 May, defeating Scottish Lib Dem leader [[Willie Rennie]] by a vote of 63 to 5, with 59 members abstaining.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892 | title=Nicola Sturgeon wins Scottish first minister vote | work=BBC News | publisher=BBC | date=17 May 2016 | access-date=17 May 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517211603/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892 | archive-date=17 May 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> She formed her [[Second Sturgeon government|second cabinet]] and re-appointed Swinney as her deputy.
====2016 EU membership referendum====
The UK Government held the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]] to decide the future of the United Kingdom's European Union membership, in which all 32 council areas in Scotland voted by a majority for the United Kingdom to remain a member of the EU. Across Scotland, 62% of voters backed the UK remaining a member of the EU, with 38% voting for the UK to leave. Overall 52% of voters in the United Kingdom voted for [[Brexit]] (leaving the EU), with 48% voting to remain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results|title=EU Referendum Results|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624000307/http://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon meets with David Cameron.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon meets with [[David Cameron]] at [[10 Downing Street]]|left|225x225px]]In response to the result, on 24 June 2016, Sturgeon said that [[Scottish Government]] officials would begin planning for a second independence referendum.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/scotland-could-seek-independence-again-after-u-k-brexit-vote-n598166|title=Scotland Seeks Independence Again After U.K. 'Brexit' Vote|first=Alastair|last=Jamieson|date=24 June 2016|work=NBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624095905/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/scotland-could-seek-independence-again-after-u-k-brexit-vote-n598166|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/brexit-scotland-independence-referendum.html|title=Scotland Says New Vote on Independence Is 'Highly Likely'|first=Kimiko|last=De Freytas-Tamura|date=25 June 2016|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216050257/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/brexit-scotland-independence-referendum.html|archive-date=16 February 2017}}</ref> Sturgeon claimed that it was "clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union" and that Scotland had "spoken decisively" with a "strong, unequivocal" vote to remain in the European Union.<ref name="ft2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06a90f8c-39c0-11e6-a780-b48ed7b6126f.html#axzz4CRXecPen|title=Scots' backing for Remain raises threat of union's demise|first=Mure|last=Dickie|date=24 June 2016|newspaper=Financial Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627153845/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06a90f8c-39c0-11e6-a780-b48ed7b6126f.html#axzz4CRXecPen|archive-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> Sturgeon said it was "democratically unacceptable" that Scotland could be taken out of the EU "against its will".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1716977/second-scotland-referendum-highly-likely|title=Second Scotland Referendum 'Highly Likely'|publisher=Sky News|date=24 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624120648/http://news.sky.com/story/1716977/second-scotland-referendum-highly-likely|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>
On 24 June, Sturgeon said she would communicate to all EU member states that Scotland had voted to stay in the EU.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/23/eu-referendum-result-live-counting-leave-remain-brain-in-europe|title=Nicola Sturgeon says second Scottish referendum 'highly likely' – as it happened|date=24 June 2016|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211043100/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/23/eu-referendum-result-live-counting-leave-remain-brain-in-europe|archive-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> An emergency Scottish cabinet meeting on 25 June agreed that the Scottish Government would seek to enter negotiations with the EU and its member states, to explore options to protect Scotland's place in the EU."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/25/sturgeon-seeks-urgent-brussels-talks-to-protect-scotlands-eu-membership|title=Sturgeon to lobby EU members to support Scotland's bid to remain|first1=Severin|last1=Carrell|first2=Jennifer|last2=Rankin|date=25 June 2016|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103182025/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/25/sturgeon-seeks-urgent-brussels-talks-to-protect-scotlands-eu-membership|archive-date=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="stv250616">{{cite web |url=http://stv.tv/news/politics/1358598-sturgeon-to-seek-eu-talks-to-protect-scotland-s-memebrship/ |title=Sturgeon to seek EU talks to 'protect' Scotland's membership |first=Aidan |last=Kerr |website=STV News |publisher=STV |date=25 June 2016 |access-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628005333/http://stv.tv/news/politics/1358598-sturgeon-to-seek-eu-talks-to-protect-scotland-s-memebrship/ |archive-date=28 June 2016 }}</ref> Sturgeon later said that while she believed in Scottish independence, her starting point in these discussions was to protect Scotland's relationship with the EU.<ref>
{{cite news |author=Press Association<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Nicola Sturgeon says independence vote would be proposed 'if best or only way to protect EU place' |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/215192/nicola-sturgeon-says-independence-vote-proposed-best-way-protect-eu-place/ |newspaper=The Courier |location=Dundee, Scotland |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629154441/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/215192/nicola-sturgeon-says-independence-vote-proposed-best-way-protect-eu-place/ |archive-date=29 June 2016 }}</ref> May's comments confirmed that the PM wanted the Scottish government to be "fully engaged" in the process.
====Future referendum on independence====
Sturgeon confirmed in June 2016 that the Scottish government had formally agreed to draft legislation to allow a second independence referendum to take place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36631738|title=EU referendum: The 'stark difference' between Wales and Scotland|work=BBC News|date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628182427/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36631738|archive-date=28 June 2016}}</ref> As the constitution is a reserved matter under the [[Scotland Act 1998]], for a future referendum on Scottish independence to be legal under UK law, it would need to receive the consent of the British Parliament to take place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents|title=Scotland Act 1998|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629003653/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents|archive-date=29 June 2016}}</ref>
Prior to the day the Prime Minister triggered [[Article 50]], formally allowing the process of the United Kingdom leaving the [[European Union]], the [[Scottish Parliament]] voted 69 to 59 in favour of another independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/28/scottish-parliament-votes-for-second-independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon|title=Scottish parliament votes for second independence referendum|last=editor|first=Severin Carrell Scotland|date=28 March 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 April 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406103856/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/28/scottish-parliament-votes-for-second-independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon|archive-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> By the end of that week, on 30 March 2017, Sturgeon wrote to the Prime Minister requesting a Section 30 order, formally devolving the responsibility and power to the [[Scottish Government]] to plan for and hold another referendum on Scottish Independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-independence-referendum-theresa-may-request-a7659201.html|title=Nicola Sturgeon writes letter to Theresa May requesting second Scottish independence referendum|last=Osborne|first=Samuel|date=31 March 2017|work=The Independent|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061701/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-independence-referendum-theresa-may-request-a7659201.html|archive-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> Previously, May and [[David Mundell]], [[Secretary of State for Scotland]], have both highlighted that as the negotiations begin with the European Union on the United Kingdom's withdraw, it is important for Scotland to work with the UK Government to get the best exit deal for both the United Kingdom and Scotland, stating that "now is not the time for another referendum".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/theresa-may-now-is-not-the-time-for-indyref2-1-4393668|title=Theresa May: 'Now is not the time' for indyref2|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=6 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061410/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/theresa-may-now-is-not-the-time-for-indyref2-1-4393668|archive-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
Following the 2017 UK general election, Nicola Sturgeon announced that the Scottish Government would postpone legislation pertaining to the proposed second referendum on Scottish independence until at least autumn 2018, when it is believed that the outcome of Brexit negotiations should become clearer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/voters-want-break-says-nicola-sturgeon-postpones-indyref2/|title=Voters want a break, says Nicola Sturgeon as she postpones IndyRef2|last=Green|first=Chris|date=27 June 2017|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050042/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/voters-want-break-says-nicola-sturgeon-postpones-indyref2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
====European Union membership====
[[File:FM meets with Juncker.jpg|thumb|228x228px|Sturgeon meets [[Jean-Claude Juncker]], [[President of the European Commission]] in [[Brussels]], 2017]]
In response to the UK-wide vote for the United Kingdom to leave the [[European Union]], the [[Scottish Government]], headed by Sturgeon, launched the ''Scotland's Place in Europe'' document, a white paper setting out the Scottish Government's aims and wishes of Scotland's role in Europe post-Brexit. The paper was sent to the central [[British Government]] to be read by Prime Minister [[Theresa May]].
In June 2017, Sturgeon criticised the approaches taken by both [[Theresa May]] and the British Government towards the Brexit approach, claiming that May "will struggle" as she is a "difficult person to build a rapport with". In the same interview, Sturgeon committed to no independence referendum being held prior to the terms of a UK wide Brexit deal being agreed and presented.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/06/nicola-sturgeon-says-difficult-theresa-may-will-struggle-with-brexit-talks |title=Nicola Sturgeon says 'difficult' Theresa May will struggle with Brexit talks |access-date=8 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714061853/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/06/nicola-sturgeon-says-difficult-theresa-may-will-struggle-with-brexit-talks |archive-date=14 July 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 June 2017 |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Carrell |first2=Severin }}</ref>
With a view towards Brexit, Sturgeon demanded greater powers for the Scottish Parliament, arguing that Brexit is threatening Scotland's [[Scottish devolution settlement|devolution settlement]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-calls-for-united-front-to-protect-devolution-1-4556755|title=Nicola Sturgeon calls for united front to protect devolution|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=14 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912131031/http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-calls-for-united-front-to-protect-devolution-1-4556755|archive-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> With London seeking to restrict immigration to the United Kingdom, she asserted that Scotland should be able to set its own immigration policy, as well as policies relating to employment and trade.<ref name=":0" />
==== 2017 UK general election ====
{{Main|2017 United Kingdom general election}}[[File:First Minister meets the Prime Minister at Bute House.jpg|thumb|241x241px|Sturgeon meets with [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Theresa May]], at [[Bute House]] in Edinburgh, 2016|left]]Sturgeon kicked off her election campaign pledging that a strong result for the SNP would "reinforce" her mandate for a second independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ross|first=Jamie|title=Nicola Sturgeon Says The General Election Could "Reinforce" Her Plans For IndyRef2|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/nicola-sturgeon-says-the-general-election-could-reinforce|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193348/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/nicola-sturgeon-says-the-general-election-could-reinforce|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|website=BuzzFeed}}</ref> However, the SNP lost 21 seats in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election in Scotland]] and the party's vote dropped by 13%, although they remained the biggest party in Scotland. Sturgeon admitted that these results were "bitterly disappointing" and acknowledged that her party's plans for a second referendum were 'undoubtedly' a factor in the election results.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 June 2017|title=Sturgeon: Indyref2 'factor' in SNP losses|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40216748|url-status=live|access-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106051828/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40216748|archive-date=6 January 2021}}</ref> It was the best result for the Scottish Conservatives since Margaret Thatcher and the party's campaign slogan, "We said No to independence. We meant it", resonated in areas that had voted strongly for the Union in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 June 2017|title=Is Scotland on the cusp of a Tory resurgence?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40105177|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422131324/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40105177|archive-date=22 April 2021|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> Observers also concluded that opposition to the EU's [[Common Fisheries Policy]] in coastal communities was a factor behind large swings to the Tories in North East seats previously held by nationalists for decades.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Carrell|first=Severin|date=27 June 2017|title=Moray: 'We are fed up with the SNP. It's as simple as that'|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/27/moray-fed-up-with-snp-simple-as-that-scotland-election|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111223525/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/27/moray-fed-up-with-snp-simple-as-that-scotland-election|archive-date=11 November 2020|access-date=20 April 2021|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 July 2017|title=Scots are not becoming more conservative: three factors behind the Tory 'revival' in North East Scotland|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-conservative-revival-scotland/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420160854/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-conservative-revival-scotland/|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
Several weeks later Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that she would "reset" and delay her plans for a second independence referendum; the SNP losses in that month's election had led her to conclude that many Scots "just want a break from making big political decisions".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40415457|title=Nicola Sturgeon puts Scottish independence referendum bill on hold|work=BBC News|date=27 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/nicola-sturgeon-refuses-abandon-indy-ref-2-promises-new-timetable/|title = Nicola Sturgeon refuses to abandon indy ref 2 and promises new timetable in 2018|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 27 June 2017|last1 = Johnson|first1 = Simon}}</ref>
====Alex Salmond sexual harassment case====
{{Main|Alex Salmond scandal}}
In January 2019, Sturgeon referred herself to an independent ministerial ethics body, which will lead to an investigation into her actions with respect to a [[Alex Salmond#Trial and acquittal on sexual misconduct allegations|sexual harassment case concerning allegations against Salmond]]. This followed her admitting that she had a secret meeting and subsequent phone call with Salmond about the Scottish government's allegations against him. She raised these with the Permanent Secretary to the [[Scottish Government]], [[Leslie Evans]], two months later, rather than reporting them immediately, as she should if they constitute government matters (as per the ministerial code). Sturgeon argued that the meetings were SNP party matters, and thus not covered. The investigating panel consisted of Dame [[Elish Angiolini]], a former [[Solicitor General for Scotland]] and [[lord advocate]], and [[James Hamilton (barrister)|James Hamilton]], a former [[Director of Public Prosecutions (Ireland)|director of public prosecutions]] in the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/13/nicola-sturgeon-refers-herself-ethics-body-salmond-case|title=Sturgeon refers herself to ethics body over actions in Salmond case|first=Severin Carrell Scotland|last=editor|date=13 January 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-date=13 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113174406/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/13/nicola-sturgeon-refers-herself-ethics-body-salmond-case|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:A National Conversation launch.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon and [[Alex Salmond]] at A National Conversation, 2007]]
On 15 January 2019, the [[Scottish Parliament]] agreed to hold its own inquiry into the matter, the [[Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/111052.aspx|title=Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints|date=23 December 2020|website=www.parliament.scot|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301171042/https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/111052.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> to investigate how the Government breached its own guidelines in its original investigation into the harassment claims against Salmond, and then lost a judicial review into their actions and had to pay over £500,000 to Salmond for legal expenses.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46876847|title=MSPs to hold inquiry over Salmond row|date=15 January 2019|access-date=15 January 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116051341/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46876847|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56209521|title=Alex Salmond says there is 'no doubt' Nicola Sturgeon broke ministerial code|date=26 February 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|work=BBC News|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303023053/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56209521|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon's husband, [[Peter Murrell]], was called to this inquiry to give evidence on 8 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alex Salmond inquiry likely to recall SNP chief exec and Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-likely-recall-snp-chief-exec-and-nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-3062334|access-date=2020-12-10|work=The Scotsman|language=en|archive-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209124334/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-likely-recall-snp-chief-exec-and-nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-3062334|url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition parties criticised Sturgeon on disparity and contradictions between the narratives of Murrell and herself.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-09|title=MSPs bid to recall SNP chief Peter Murrell to Salmond inquiry|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55247449|access-date=2020-12-10|archive-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209150459/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55247449|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sturgeon initially told parliament that she had first heard of the complaints against Salmond when he told her of them at a meeting on 2 April 2018.<ref name="auto"/> However, 18 months later, she revised her account, saying she had forgotten about an earlier meeting, on 29 March 2018, in which Salmond's former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein told her about the complaints.<ref name="auto"/> Critics have described this as a possible breach of the ministerial code, which states that any minister who deliberately misleads parliament should resign.<ref name="auto"/> The 29 March meeting was not recorded: meetings on government business are meant to be recorded, but Sturgeon has said this is because it was an SNP meeting.<ref name="auto"/> In his evidence to the committee, Salmond said there was "no doubt" that Sturgeon had broken the ministerial code in not revealing the 29 March meeting sooner and in not recording what was really a meeting about government business.<ref name="auto"/> Sturgeon denied any wrongdoing.<ref name="auto"/> Documents and emails published on 2 March 2021 showed that two people supported Salmond's assertion that the meeting was convened as a government, not party, matter.<ref name="Salmond2Mar21" /> The publication also backed up Salmond's allegation that the identity of one of his accusers had been passed to his former chief of staff, contradicting Sturgeon's statement that "to the very best of my knowledge I do not think that happened".<ref name="Salmond2Mar21">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56259056|title=Calls for Nicola Sturgeon to quit over Alex Salmond revelations|date=2 March 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|work=BBC News|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302183544/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56259056|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 4 March 2021 Sturgeon answered questions over a period of eight hours from members of the Committee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eardley |first=Nick |work=[[BBC News]] |date=4 March 2021 |title=Team Sturgeon breathes a sigh of relief |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56281854 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323052015/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56281854 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was challenged on her Government's unlawful handling of the probe against Salmond and Labour's Deputy Leader [[Jackie Baillie]] asked her: “You have described these errors as 'catastrophic'. That's a strong word, tell me why then nobody has resigned? Nobody has taken responsibility of this, because at the heart of this two women have been let down.”<ref>{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Gina |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=3 March 2021 |title=Alex Salmond inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon and Jackie Baillie clash over legal advice |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-and-jackie-baillie-clash-over-legal-advice-3153489 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603024436/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-and-jackie-baillie-clash-over-legal-advice-3153489 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sturgeon said she “deeply regretted” the mistakes her Government had made, while denying the existence of a conspiracy against Salmond.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forrest |first1=Adam |last2=Tidman |first2=Zoe |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon apologises to women 'failed' by botched Salmond investigation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-apologises-salmond-inquiry-b1811545.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506235055/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-apologises-salmond-inquiry-b1811545.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Nicola Sturgeon with Leo Varadkar 2019.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon with then-[[Taoiseach]] [[Leo Varadkar]] at [[British–Irish Council|British-Irish Council Summit]], 2019|left|223x223px]]On 19 March 2021, it was reported that a majority of MSPs on the Committee had voted to affirm that Nicola Sturgeon misled the inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-19|title=MSPs on Alex Salmond committee say Nicola Sturgeon misled them|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56451170|access-date=2021-03-21|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320191453/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56451170|url-status=live}}</ref> The MSPs concluded that it was "hard to believe" Sturgeon when she told Parliament she had not known about concerns of inappropriate behaviour against Salmond before November 2017. It also determined that Sturgeon gave an "inaccurate account" of what happened when she met Salmond at her home on 2 April 2018 and as such had misled the committee.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=19 March 2021 |title=Nicola Sturgeon rejects claims over Alex Salmond inquiry evidence |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56459301 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410200908/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56459301 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, a representative for Sturgeon claimed that the committee were simply "smearing" the First Minister and being party-political.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-25|title=Independent MSP Andy Wightman defends Holyrood inquiry report|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56513356|access-date=2021-04-10|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410195324/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56513356|url-status=live}}</ref>
The following week James Hamilton's report cleared Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code in a number of areas relating to her dealings with Salmond; while caveating that, “It is for the Scottish parliament to decide whether they were in fact misled.”<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Libby |date=22 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=What did report that cleared Sturgeon of misleading Scottish parliament say? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/22/what-did-the-report-that-cleared-nicola-sturgeon-of-misleading-parliament-say |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529225021/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/22/what-did-the-report-that-cleared-nicola-sturgeon-of-misleading-parliament-say |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Scottish Conservatives tabled a motion of no confidence in her as First Minister, a decision Sturgeon described as "bullying".<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news |last=Merrick |first=Rob |work=[[The Independent]] |date=23 March 2021 |title=Defiant Nicola Sturgeon wins vote of no confidence and says she will 'not be bullied out of office' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-no-confidence-vote-result-b1821242.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324170621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-no-confidence-vote-result-b1821242.html |archive-date=24 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Holyrood Tory leader, [[Ruth Davidson]], said that, "By misleading this [[Scottish Parliament]], she misled the people of Scotland too. No First Minister who truly wanted to live up to the ideals of this parliament should feel able to continue in post after having been judged guilty of misleading it."<ref name="independent.co.uk" /> The motion was defeated by 65 votes to 31, with Greens MSPs voting with the Government, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats opted to abstain.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=23 March 2021 |title=Sturgeon survives Holyrood confidence vote over Salmond row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56494684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603012918/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56494684 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC Alex">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56496069|title=Alex Salmond complainers claim government 'dropped' them|date=23 March 2021|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426094814/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56496069|url-status=live}}</ref>
Two of the civil servants who made complaints about Salmond later said they felt they had been "dropped" by the Scottish Government after it lost the judicial review against him, adding they feared their experiences would make it less likely people would make complaints in the future.<ref name="BBC Alex" /> Labour MP [[Jess Phillips]], a former employee of [[Women's Aid]], accused Sturgeon of being "unprofessional with those women's lives" and said there had been a "litany of failures in professionalism and decency."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/snp-alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-b1813369.html|title=The SNP mess has left me flabbergasted – what kind of message does it send? | Jess Phillips|date=6 March 2021|website=The Independent|access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426115308/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/snp-alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-b1813369.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
====2019 UK general election====
{{Main|2019 United Kingdom general election}}
[[File:Johnson met with Nicola Sturgeon for Union of Scotland.jpg|thumb|230x230px|[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]], [[Boris Johnson]], meets with Sturgeon at [[Bute House]], 2019]]Sturgeon led her party to a [[landslide victory]] in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election in Scotland]]. The SNP won 48 seats, and came second place in the 11 others; their 45% of the vote yielded 80% of the seats in Scotland.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50789131|title=Election 2019: the result in Scotland in numbers|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214042344/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50789131|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the election casualties was [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] leader [[Jo Swinson]], who lost her seat in [[East Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Dunbartonshire.]] Sturgeon was branded as "ungracious" when she was filmed by [[Sky News]] celebrating Swinson's defeat. Sturgeon apologised for being overexcited although expressed that she was celebrating [[Amy Callaghan]]'s win.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/dec/13/nicola-sturgeon-celebrates-as-snp-candidate-takes-jo-swinsons-seat-video|title=Nicola Sturgeon filmed celebrating Jo Swinson's defeat to SNP's Amy Callaghan – video|last1=Sky|first1=Source|date=13 December 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 December 2019|last2=Reuters|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213112106/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/dec/13/nicola-sturgeon-celebrates-as-snp-candidate-takes-jo-swinsons-seat-video|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-i-got-overexcited-in-reaction-to-jo-swinson-loss-11885572|title=Nicola Sturgeon: 'I got overexcited' in reaction to Jo Swinson loss|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=14 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213180219/https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-i-got-overexcited-in-reaction-to-jo-swinson-loss-11885572|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-branded-ungracious-after-celebrating-jo-swinson-losing-her-seat-1-5062027|title=Nicola Sturgeon branded 'ungracious' after celebrating Jo Swinson losing her seat|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=14 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213143019/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-branded-ungracious-after-celebrating-jo-swinson-losing-her-seat-1-5062027|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-tips-east-dunbartonshires-amy-callaghan-to-be-one-of-the-stars-of-the-commons/|title=Nicola Sturgeon tips East Dunbartonshire's Amy Callaghan to be one of the stars of the Commons|last=Swindon|first=Peter|website=The Sunday Post|language=en-US|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323140322/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-tips-east-dunbartonshires-amy-callaghan-to-be-one-of-the-stars-of-the-commons/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the wake of the results, Sturgeon said that [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]] has "no right" to stand in the way of another Scottish independence referendum after an "overwhelming" SNP election victory. She also said that the result "renews, reinforces and strengthens" the mandate for [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|Indyref2]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50779724|title=Sturgeon: PM has 'no right' to block Indyref2|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213223059/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50779724|url-status=live}}</ref>
====COVID–19 pandemic====
{{see|COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland}}
[[File:First Minister's COVID-19 Statement - 16 April 2020 (49781060278).jpg|thumb|left|Sturgeon addressing the nation at a Scottish Government daily COVID-19 briefing]]
The [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] occurred during Sturgeon's second term as First Minister. To contain and limit the number of affected people in Scotland, Sturgeon and the [[Scottish Government]] highlighted a number of measures advised by [[NHS Scotland]], initially maintaining effective hand washing.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51904721 |title=Coronavirus: Some Scottish schools close for deep clean – BBC News |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=16 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316141218/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51904721 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first confirmed case of the virus in Scotland was announced on 1 March 2020, when a resident in [[Tayside]] had tested positive. In the following days, Sturgeon issued further advice and guidance as the number of positive cases began to increase, but had said that closures of public places such as schools and shops "would be reviewed".<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
Initially, the Scottish Government resisted banning public events and on 12 March allowed 47,000 fans to attend a Rangers match at Ibrox, insisting that, “stopping mass gatherings [is] not the best way to contain this virus.”<ref name=earlier_lockdown>{{cite news |last=McCall |first=Chris |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon admits Scotland would have been in lockdown earlier if she 'could turn the clock back' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-admits-scotland-would-24241982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603211559/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-admits-scotland-would-24241982 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on 18 March Sturgeon announced to the [[Scottish Parliament]] that all schools and nurseries in Scotland would close on 20 March to try and limit the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51928400 |title=Coronavirus: Schools in Scotland and Wales to close from Friday – BBC News |work=BBC News |date=18 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321155824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51928400 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 March, Sturgeon issued a statement, placing Scotland on a "lockdown", limiting the reasons as to why people may leave their homes in an increase attempt to limit the spread of the virus, to protect the health of the population, as well as to ease the pressure the virus places on [[NHS Scotland]] services and workforce.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52007540 |title=Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon says new rules amount to 'lockdown' – BBC News |work=BBC News |date=23 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405092251/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52007540 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then restrictions have been frequently tightened, loosened and adapted in parts or all of Scotland to respond to developments in the situation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SPICe|date=2021-01-22|title=Timeline of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland|url=https://spice-spotlight.scot/2021/01/22/timeline-of-coronavirus-covid-19-in-scotland/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=SPICe Spotlight {{!}} Solas air SPICe|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128074239/https://spice-spotlight.scot/2021/01/22/timeline-of-coronavirus-covid-19-in-scotland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the early stages of the pandemic 1,300 elderly hospital patients were transferred into care homes without receiving a negative coronavirus test result.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56680666|title=Covid in Scotland: Government 'failed' social care sector during pandemic|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423042548/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56680666|url-status=live}}</ref> Many had been infected with the virus and ended up passing it on to other care home residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-health-minister-admits-coronavirus-23879626|title=SNP Health Minister admits covid mistake in transferring patients to care homes|first=Torcuil|last=Crichton|date=8 April 2021|website=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423124105/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-health-minister-admits-coronavirus-23879626|url-status=live}}</ref> Over three thousand care home residents died from coronavirus<ref name="thetimes.co.uk">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-covid-error-turned-care-homes-into-morgues-xt2652t8k|title=Ministers' Covid error 'turned care homes into morgues'|first=John Boothman and Mark|last=Macaskill|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415133955/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-covid-error-turned-care-homes-into-morgues-xt2652t8k|url-status=live}}</ref> and Gary Smith, Scotland Secretary of the [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]], said the policy had turned “care homes into morgues”.<ref name="thetimes.co.uk" /> When asked by the BBC if the policy had been a mistake, Sturgeon said: "Looking back on that now, with the knowledge we have now and with the benefit of hindsight, yes."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56791600|title=Covid in Scotland: 'Mistake' to discharge Covid patients says Sturgeon|work=BBC News|date=18 April 2021}}</ref>[[File:British-Irish Council Summit 2020 - 6 November 2020 (50572368836).jpg|thumb|226x226px|Sturgeon speaking virtually at the [[British–Irish Council|British-Irish Council]] Summit 2020]]In April 2020 whistle-blowers in the NHS came forward to reveal that staff were being made to reuse dirty personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work. One nurse told STV, "[When we hear the government say supplies are fine] it's not frustrating, it's crushing. It is absolutely crushing. We feel we are being lied to."<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Louise |work=[[STV News]] |date=17 April 2020 |title=Whistleblower: Nurses forced to reuse and share single-use PPE |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/whistleblower-nurses-forced-to-reuse-and-share-single-use-ppe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604171200/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/whistleblower-nurses-forced-to-reuse-and-share-single-use-ppe?top |archive-date=4 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament in July, "At no point within this crisis has Scotland run out of any aspect of PPE. We have worked hard to make sure that supplies are there, we’ve worked hard overcoming challenges that we have faced along the way."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Calum |work=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]] |date=9 July 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon defends PPE record after we revealed pre-pandemic warnings |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1433810/coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-defends-ppe-record-after-we-revealed-pre-pandemic-warnings/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904053717/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1433810/coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-defends-ppe-record-after-we-revealed-pre-pandemic-warnings/ |archive-date=4 September 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2020, Sturgeon advocated that the leaders of the four UK nations adopt a coordinated [[Zero-COVID]] strategy.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last=Torjesen|first=Ingrid|date=3 August 2020|title=Covid-19: Should the UK be aiming for elimination?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3071.full|journal=[[The BMJ]]|volume=370|pages=m3071|doi=10.1136/bmj.m3071|pmid=32747404|s2cid=220922348}}</ref>
In February 2021 Audit Scotland published a report that concluded the Scottish Government had not prepared adequately for a pandemic. While it commended the authorities for preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during the crisis, the watchdog also noted that recommendations from pandemic planning exercises in 2015, 2016 and 2018 had not been fully implemented. One particular problem it highlighted was that not enough had been done to ensure Scottish hospitals and care homes had enough personal protective equipment. Overall, it concluded that ministers "could have been better prepared to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic". Sturgeon said there were "lots of lessons to learn".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|title=Covid in Scotland: Inadequate preparations for Covid, says watchdog|work=BBC News|date=17 February 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420190007/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|title=Scottish government inadequately prepared for Covid – watchdog|date=17 February 2021|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424084033/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2021, the [[Court of Session]] declared that the Scottish Government's prohibition on communal worship, imposed during the pandemic, was unlawful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56511585 |title=Covid in Scotland: Places of worship can open now after court win |work=BBC News |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411172221/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56511585 |url-status=live }}</ref> This followed an open letter two months earlier, written by 200 church leaders to Sturgeon, warning her that the prohibition could be unlawful.<ref>{{cite web |last=Petrie |first=Calum |date=13 January 2021 |title=Church leaders pile pressure on Sturgeon to lift public worship ban |publisher= |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/2808139/church-leaders-pile-pressure-on-sturgeon-to-lift-public-worship-ban/ |website=The Press and Journal |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411172220/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/2808139/church-leaders-pile-pressure-on-sturgeon-to-lift-public-worship-ban/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2021 Scotland's death toll from coronavirus passed 10,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231926.covid-scotland-official-figures-show-death-toll-now-passed-10-000/|title=Scotland's Covid death toll officially passes 10,000|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420155534/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231926.covid-scotland-official-figures-show-death-toll-now-passed-10-000/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56759166|title=The full picture of Covid-linked deaths in Scotland's care homes|work=BBC News|date=19 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420215612/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56759166|url-status=live}}</ref>
At a session of First Minister's Questions in June 2021, Sturgeon was asked about mistakes made early on in the pandemic and she replied: "If I could turn the clock back, would we go into lockdown earlier than we did? Yes, I think that is true."<ref name=earlier_lockdown />
====Drugs deaths crisis====
In 2016 the Scottish Government cut direct funding to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes from £69.2 million to £53.8 million – a drop of 22%.<ref name="heraldscotland">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14241634.health-boards-told-fill-15-million-cut-funding-drug-alcohol-care/|title = Health boards told to fill £15 million cut in funding for drug and alcohol care}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.randoxtestingservices.com/proposed-cuts-on-funding-for-drug-and-alcohol-rehabilitation-in-scotland/|title=Proposed cuts on funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Scotland|date=12 February 2016}}</ref> At the time, Scottish Drugs Forum Chief Executive David Liddell said he was concerned that the cuts had "the potential to increase harm and drug-related deaths."<ref name="heraldscotland" /> That year 867 Scots lost their lives to drugs – an increase of 23% on the previous year's figures – and the SNP insisted it was part of a trend seen across much Europe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40935150|title=Drug deaths in Scotland rose by 23% in 2016|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2017}}</ref> In December 2020 figures were released revealing that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drug overdoses in 2019 – the highest number in Europe per head and more than double the number in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961|title=Scotland's drug deaths rise to new record|work=BBC News|date=15 December 2020|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419101029/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon sacked her Public Health Minister [[Joe FitzPatrick]] and in April 2021 said of the crisis: "I think we took our eye off the ball."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231212.nicola-sturgeon-took-eye-off-ball-drug-deaths/|title=Sturgeon: We took our eye off the ball on drug deaths|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154709/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231212.nicola-sturgeon-took-eye-off-ball-drug-deaths/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The crisis has particularly impacted the homeless in Scotland; 216 homeless people died in Scotland in 2019 – an increase of 11% on the previous year and of which over half (54%) were drug related.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56168728|title=Deaths among homeless people in Scotland up 10%|work=BBC News|date=23 February 2021|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423095158/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56168728|url-status=live}}</ref> Per head, Scotland's death rate among the homeless is the highest in Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19110583.scotlands-homeless-death-rate-worst-britain---200-die-year/|title='Scandalous': Scotland's homeless death rate worst in Britain – as over 200 die in a year|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423095153/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19110583.scotlands-homeless-death-rate-worst-britain---200-die-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2021 the Scottish Government announced there had been 1,339 drug deaths in the previous year – a new record high.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58024296|title=Drug deaths in Scotland reach new record level|work=BBC News|date=30 July 2021}}</ref> Sturgeon described the figures as "unacceptable, each one a human tragedy",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-expected-to-hit-record-levels-for-the-seventh-year-in-a-row-12367604|title = Scotland: Drug deaths hit record level for seventh year in a row – here's what the data shows}}</ref> while the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: "It was Nicola Sturgeon's choice to ignore this unfolding epidemic. Issuing apologies now is too late for thousands of people. The victims of drugs and their families were failed. It is a scar on the conscience of this Scottish Government."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-accused-ignoring-drug-24650027|title=Nicola Sturgeon accused of ignoring drug deaths epidemic in Scotland|date=30 July 2021}}</ref>
====Education====
In 2015 Sturgeon said that she planned to make education her "defining priority" while in office.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32874215|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish education 'not good enough'|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2015|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192623/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32874215|url-status=live}}</ref> In particular, she said she hoped to focus on closing the attainment gap between the richest and poorest children in Scottish schools, telling journalists: “Let me be clear – I want to be judged on this. If you are not, as First Minister, prepared to put your neck on the line on the education of our young people then what are you prepared to. It really matters.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-judge-me-education-record-1497298|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Judge me on education record|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192621/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-judge-me-education-record-1497298|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021 Audit Scotland concluded that, "Progress on closing the poverty-related attainment gap between the most and least deprived school pupils has been limited"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/attainment-gap-remains-wide-and-better-education-data-needed|title=Attainment gap remains wide and better education data needed | Audit Scotland|website=www.audit-scotland.gov.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192631/https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/attainment-gap-remains-wide-and-better-education-data-needed|url-status=live}}</ref> and fell short of the Government's aims.<ref name=BBC_school>{{cite news |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=School attainment gap 'remains wide', watchdog warns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56489714#:~:text=Analysis%20by%20Audit%20Scotland%20showed,%2D%20a%20gap%20of%2036.2%25. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323063918/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56489714 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> In some local authorities the attainment gap between the richest and poorest students had widened.<ref name=BBC_school />
====Transgender rights====
{{see also|Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill}}
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon leading the Pride parade at Glasgow Pride 2018.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon leading [[Pride parade]] at [[Glasgow]] Pride 2018]]
Ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Sturgeon pledged to review and reform the way that trans people change their legal gender.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-35945543|title=Nicola Sturgeon makes gender recognition pledge|work=BBC News|date=1 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-35945543|url-status=live}}</ref> However, proposed changes to Scotland's Gender Recognition Act that would have allowed people to change their identity through self-identification, rather than a medical process, were paused in June 2019.<ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48702946|title=Scottish transgender reforms put on hold|work=BBC News|date=20 June 2019|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205230725/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48702946|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of the changes within the SNP had accused Sturgeon of being "out of step" on the issue, and expressed concerns that the reforms would be open to abuse and allow predatory men into women's spaces.<ref name="bbc.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland|title=Several women 'close to quitting SNP over gender recognition plans'|date=14 October 2019|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093740/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland|url-status=live}}</ref> The Scottish Government said it had paused the legislation in order to find "maximum consensus" on the issue<ref name="bbc.com"/> and commentators described the issue as having divided the SNP like no other, with many dubbing the debate a "civil war".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html|title=Joanna Cherry accuses SNP colleagues of 'performative histrionics' over transgender issue|date=10 February 2021|website=The Independent|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t|title=Anger over trans woman on all-female SNP shortlist|first=Mike|last=Wade|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/|title=SNP civil war deepens as leading Sturgeon critic Joanna Cherry purged from Westminster team|first=Daniel|last=Sanderson|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=1 February 2021|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210101023/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2020 the reforms were again delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/transgender-reforms-shelved-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic|title=Transgender reforms shelved due to coronavirus pandemic|date=1 April 2020|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426155656/https://news.stv.tv/politics/transgender-reforms-shelved-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2021 a former trans officer in the SNP's LGBT wing, Teddy Hope, quit the party, claiming it was one of the “core hubs of transphobia in Scotland".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850|title=Why has the SNP been accused of 'transphobic views' – and who is Teddy Hope?|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850|url-status=live}}</ref> Large numbers of LGBT activists followed suit and Sturgeon released a video message in which she said that transphobia is "not acceptable" and said she hoped they would re-join the party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227|title=Nicola Sturgeon says transphobia in SNP 'not acceptable'|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503160507/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video|title=Nicola Sturgeon: transphobia in SNP is 'not acceptable' – video|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 January 2021|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193916/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the 2021 SNP manifesto, Sturgeon committed the party once again to reform the Gender Recognition Act<ref>{{Cite news|last=Merson|first=Adele|date=30 June 2021|title=Trans rights: How gender recognition reform became one of Scotland's most heated debates|work=[[The Press and Journal (Scotland)]]|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/3272284/trans-rights-debate-scotland/|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref>
and in August that year included the commitment in her agreement with the [[Scottish Greens]] on power sharing.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Simon|date=23 August 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon facing backlash over proposed gender legislation|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/08/23/nicola-sturgeon-facing-backlash-proposed-gender-legislation/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/08/23/nicola-sturgeon-facing-backlash-proposed-gender-legislation/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=24 August 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In September 2021, Sturgeon was accused of shutting down debate about gender reforms, after she heckled [[Murdo Fraser]] in parliament when he mentioned the Women's Rights Demo organised by feminist campaign group [[For Women Scotland]], and when she described concerns about gender recognition reform as "not valid".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=9 September 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon branded 'disgrace' after heckling MSP over gender reforms|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19569271.nicola-sturgeon-branded-disgrace-heckling-msp-gender-reforms/?ref=twtrec|access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=10 September 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon dismisses concerns over gender reforms as 'not valid'|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19571909.nicola-sturgeon-dismisses-concerns-gender-reforms-not-valid/|access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>
====2021 Scottish Parliament election====
Sturgeon led the SNP into the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]] on a manifesto promise to hold a second independence referendum after the COVID-19 pandemic was over.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Soussi|first=Alasdair|title=SNP to seek Scottish independence vote after election victory|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/8/snp-to-seek-scottish-independence-vote-after-election-victory|access-date=2021-05-09|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509001038/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/8/snp-to-seek-scottish-independence-vote-after-election-victory|url-status=live}}</ref> In the election, the SNP won 64 of the 129 seats contested.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-09|title=Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509024429/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|url-status=live}}</ref> The SNP won a fourth consecutive election, albeit short of an overall majority, with a record number of votes on both the constituency and regional vote{{failed verification|date=May 2021}} as well as increasing their share of the constituency vote and making a net gain of one seat.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-08|title=Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|access-date=2021-05-09|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509024429/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-08|title=SNP wins election, but just one seat short of overall majority|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-wins-election-but-just-short-of-overall-majority|access-date=2021-05-09|website=STV News|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523140840/https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-wins-election-but-just-short-of-overall-majority|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Third term: 2021–present===
Sturgeon was nominated for the post of [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] by a vote of the [[Scottish Parliament]] on 18 May, defeating [[Scottish Conservatives|Scottish Conservative]] leader [[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]] and [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Scottish Liberal Democrat]] leader, Willie Rennie by 64 votes to 31 and 4 respectively. This win resulted in Sturgeon becoming the first First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament to form a [[Third Sturgeon government|third government]]. Shortly after being elected, Sturgeon appointed John Swinney to the newly created position of [[Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-18|title=John Swinney to be minister for Covid recovery|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57161751|access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518182227/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57161751|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, US President Joe Biden and President of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera.jpg|thumb|right|269x269px|Sturgeon meets with U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] and [[President of Malawi]] [[Lazarus Chakwera]], November 2021]]
====Power-sharing agreement====
In August 2021, Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party co-leaders [[Patrick Harvie]] and [[Lorna Slater]] announced a [[Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement|power-sharing agreement between their parties]]. There was no agreement on oil and gas exploration, but the government now argued that it had a stronger case for a national independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-20|title=SNP and Scottish Greens confirm power-sharing deal in historic moment for Greens|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/20/snp-and-scottish-greens-expected-to-confirm-power-sharing-deal|access-date=2021-08-21|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> As part of the agreement, the Green Party co-leaders would be nominated to serve as ministers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-27|title=Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to serve as ministers in Nicola Sturgeon's Government|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/green-co-leaders-patrick-harvie-and-lorna-slater-to-serve-as-ministers-in-nicola-sturgeons-government-3360585|access-date=2021-08-27|website=the Scotsman|language=en}}</ref>
====Climate crisis====
[[File:First Minister - COP26 OXFAM speech (51672407476).jpg|thumb|Sturgeon at the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP26 climate summit]] in Glasgow on 11 November 2021|left|191x191px]]
In August 2021 Sturgeon wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, asking him whether the development of the Cambo oil field west of Shetland should be "reassessed in light of the severity of the climate emergency".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58186181|title=Sturgeon urges UK government to reassess Cambo oil field plan|work=BBC News|date=13 August 2021}}</ref> The letter represented a significant shift in policy for the SNP, which had [[It's Scotland's oil|historically been a strong supporter of the oil and gas industry]]; the party's blueprint for an independent Scotland in 2013 was predicated on tax revenue earned from domestic oil production, while Sturgeon had predicted in the run up to the referendum that, "We’re on the verge of another North Sea bonanza".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shetland-oilfield-is-a-drop-in-the-ocean-s9d6xf3sl|title = Shetland oilfield is a drop in the ocean|last1 = Massie|first1 = Alex}}</ref>
The announcement was welcomed by the Scottish Green party but [[Greenpeace]] criticised Sturgeon for not coming out more strongly against the oil field. “The First Minister must stop hiding behind Boris Johnson," a spokesperson for the organisation said. "If she wants to show leadership on climate she must clearly say: stop Cambo.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/12/nicola-sturgeon-hiding-behind-pm-cambo-oilfield-north-sea-say-climate-groups|title = Nicola Sturgeon 'hiding behind PM' on Cambo oilfield, say climate groups|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 12 August 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, although no assessment had taken place, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament she believed the oilfield "should not get the green light".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-59312510|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Cambo oil field should not get green light|work=BBC News|date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
===International relations===
While [[Foreign policy of the United Kingdom|foreign policy]] remains a [[reserved matter]],<ref name="parliament.scot">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722092046/http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2017 }}</ref> Sturgeon has undertaken a number of visits to Europe, North America and Asia to promote Scotland as a place of investment and Scottish businesses to trade and do business with.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Europe |title=Europe - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623101827/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Europe |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Americas/north-america |title=International relations - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064834/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Americas/north-america |archive-date=18 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Asia |title=International relations - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623035251/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Asia |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref> Sturgeon has committed to strengthening links between Scotland and the [[Africa]]n continent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Africa |title=International development - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623082436/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Africa |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref>
In response to the Brexit vote, to discuss Scotland's interests, Sturgeon travelled to [[Brussels]] to meet with both [[Jean-Claude Juncker]], the [[President of the European Commission]] as well as [[Martin Schulz]], the [[President of the European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://firstminister.gov.scot/3181-2/ |title=Protecting Scotland's role in the EU |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010004559/https://firstminister.gov.scot/3181-2/ |archive-date=10 October 2017 |date=30 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/agenturmeldungen/dpa/schulz-empfaengt-schottin-sturgeon-zu-gespraech-ueber-brexit-folgen-14314820.htmlhtml |date=26 June 2006 |title=Schulz empfängt Schottin Sturgeon zu Gespräch über Brexit-Folgen |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |language=de|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref>
====United States====
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon meets Icelandic Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon meets with [[Katrín Jakobsdóttir]], [[Prime Minister of Iceland]], 2019]]
Sturgeon was highly critical of [[Donald Trump]] and his policies during the [[2016 United States presidential election]] and had publicly backed his [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] rival [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-backs-hillary-president-9204999 |title=Nicola Sturgeon breaks convention to back Hillary Clinton in Presidential race |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214420/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-backs-hillary-president-9204999 |archive-date=1 October 2017 |date=6 November 2016 }}</ref> Sturgeon highlighted her disapproval of his language and views relating to sexism and misogyny, and stated upon Trump's victory that she hopes "Trump turns out to be a president different to the one he was during his campaign and reaches out to those who felt vilified by his campaign".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37940485 |title=Sturgeon 'will not be silent' over Trump |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123083406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37940485 |archive-date=23 January 2017 |work=BBC News |date=10 November 2016 }}</ref>
Sturgeon had previously stripped Trump of his ambassadorial role for Scottish businesses with the Scottish Government in the aftermath of Trump's views of an outright ban of [[Muslims]] from entering the United States. Sturgeon claimed following comments made by Trump in relation to Muslims entering the United States that he was "not fit" for the ambassadorial role with the Scottish Government.<ref name="stv.tv">{{cite web |url=https://stv.tv/news/politics/1378606-nicola-sturgeon-congratulates-donald-trump-on-inauguration/ |title=Nicola Sturgeon congratulates Donald Trump on inauguration |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213437/https://stv.tv/news/politics/1378606-nicola-sturgeon-congratulates-donald-trump-on-inauguration/ |archive-date=1 October 2017 |date=20 January 2017 }}</ref>
====Spain====
In the run up to the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum]], Nicola Sturgeon offered her own personal backing and that of the [[Scottish Government]] to [[Catalonia]] in the holding of a referendum.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41350999 |title=Sturgeon backs Catalan referendum calls |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050053/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41350999 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2017 }}</ref> The [[Government of Spain]] criticised Sturgeon, claiming she had "totally misunderstood" the situation in Spain and Catalonia.<ref name="Archived copy"/> Sturgeon highlighted that Spain should follow "the shining example" that was created as part of the [[Edinburgh Agreement (2012)|Edinburgh Agreement]] between the Scottish and British Governments that allowed Scotland to hold a legally binding referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15554327.Iain_Macwhirter__Madrid_should_have_learned_the_lesson_of_the_Scottish_independence_referendum/ |title=Iain Macwhirter: Madrid should have learned the lesson of the Scottish independence referendum |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022033/http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15554327.Iain_Macwhirter__Madrid_should_have_learned_the_lesson_of_the_Scottish_independence_referendum/ |archive-date=2 October 2017 }}</ref>
==Political views==
[[File:-StopTrident - Nicola Sturgeon (25237978452).jpg|left|thumb|Sturgeon at the #StopTrident rally at Trafalgar Square, February 2016.]]
Sturgeon has campaigned against replacing the [[Trident nuclear programme|Trident nuclear weapons system]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-signs-rethink-trident-pledge-1-3865803 |title=Nicola Sturgeon signs 'Rethink Trident' pledge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207233427/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-signs-rethink-trident-pledge-1-3865803 |archive-date=7 December 2015 }}</ref> She has at times been a critic of [[austerity]], saying that the UK government's "austerity economics" is "morally unjustifiable and economically unsustainable".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31377373 |title=Nicola Sturgeon attacks 'Westminster austerity economics' |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003143112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31377373 |archive-date=3 October 2015 }}</ref> However, in 2018 she endorsed her party's Growth Commission report that pledged to reduce an independent Scotland's budget deficit as a percentage of GDP<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-44237956|title=What's in the SNP's growth commission report?|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2018|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154311/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-44237956|url-status=live}}</ref> – something the [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]] concluded meant "continued austerity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,ifs-independent-scotland-would-face-continued-austerity-under-growth-commission-proposals_8823.htm|title=IFS: Independent Scotland 'would face continued austerity' under Growth Commission proposals|date=4 October 2019|website=Holyrood Website|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154314/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,ifs-independent-scotland-would-face-continued-austerity-under-growth-commission-proposals_8823.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sorry-the-article-you-were-trying-to-read-was-free-only-for-a-limited-time-b70qpw2kj|title=Sorry...|first=The Times & The Sunday|last=Times|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512093206/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sorry-the-article-you-were-trying-to-read-was-free-only-for-a-limited-time-b70qpw2kj|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sturgeon has also campaigned on [[women's rights]] and [[gender equality]], and is a self-described [[feminism|feminist]]; she has argued that Scotland's feminist movement is not simply symbolic, but "sends a powerful signal about equality".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/30/post-referendum-scotland-feminist-paradise |title=Is post-referendum Scotland a feminist paradise? |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221150909/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/30/post-referendum-scotland-feminist-paradise |archive-date=21 December 2016 }}</ref> She has hailed Scottish feminist economist [[Ailsa McKay]] as one of her inspirations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beaton|first=Connor|title= Economics professor passes after cancer battle|work=The Targe|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> She has at various points commented on the behaviour or attitudes of men towards women; publicly condemning Donald Trump,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-misogyny-its-worst-says-sturgeon-a7364481.html|title = Donald Trump is 'misogyny at its worst' says Sturgeon|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 16 October 2016}}</ref> [[Tony Abbott]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scottish-independence-sexist-envoy-tony-abbott-is-boost-for-second-referendum-says-nicola-sturgeon-z57cf7w56|title = Scottish independence: Sexist envoy Tony Abbott is boost for second referendum, says Nicola Sturgeon|last1 = McLaughlin|first1 = Mark}}</ref> and former Labour MSP [[Neil Findlay]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-slams-sexist-tweet-by-labour-msp-neil-findlay-bk6rx9hpx|title=Sturgeon slams 'sexist' tweet by Labour MSP Neil Findlay|last1=McLaughlin|first1=Mark}}</ref> She has also defended men from allegations of sexism too; in 2015, after Alex Salmond told Tory MP [[Anna Soubry]], "Behave yourself, woman", Sturgeon said: "The fundamental question, ‘does that language indicate that Alex Salmond is sexist?’ Absolutely not, there’s no man I know who is less sexist.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/09/nicola-sturgeon-defends-alex-salmond-sexist-comments_n_7548840.html|title=Sturgeon Insists Salmond is the 'Least Sexist Man' She Knows|date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508|title = 'Behave yourself, Alex Salmond is no sexist' – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon|date = 10 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-rejects-sexist-jibe-about-salmond-8z359l5vh2m|title = Sturgeon rejects sexist jibe about Salmond|last1 = McIntosh|first1 = Lindsay}}</ref> Commenting on the need for men to challenge their friends’ misogynistic behaviour, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament in 2021: "I would say to all men in this chamber and all men across the country — challenge it [misogyny] if it’s on the part of other men you may know, challenge your own behaviour and then let’s collectively, as a society, turn the page and turn the corner so that women can live free of the fear of harassment, abuse, intimidation, violence and, in the worst cases, death."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-urges-men-to-challenge-sexist-behaviour-lwllv0snx|title=Challenge friends over sexist conduct, Nicola Sturgeon urges men}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/07/men-must-challenge-misogynistic-behaviour-says-nicola-sturgeon|title = Men must challenge misogynistic behaviour, says Nicola Sturgeon|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 7 October 2021}}</ref>
Sturgeon is a constitutional monarchist, telling journalists that it is "a model that has many merits".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780|title=Nicola Sturgeon has first audience with the Queen|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2014|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222242/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780|url-status=live}}</ref> On the day [[Queen Elizabeth II]] become Britain's longest reigning monarch, Sturgeon travelled with her to open the [[Borders Railway]] and told a crowd of well-wishers: "She [The Queen] has carried out Her duties with dedication, wisdom and an exemplary sense of public service. The reception She has received today, demonstrates that that admiration and affection is certainly felt here in Scotland."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-09-09/sturgeon-republican-or-royalist|title=Sturgeon: Republican or Royalist?|first=Peter|last=MacMahon|date=9 September 2015|website=ITV News|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222243/https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-09-09/sturgeon-republican-or-royalist|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Awards and acknowledgements==
Sturgeon won the [[Scottish Politician of the Year Award]] in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50517496|title=Nicola Sturgeon crowned 'Politician of the Year'|date=22 November 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203154354/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50517496|url-status=live}}</ref>
''[[Forbes]]'' magazine ranked Sturgeon as the 50th most powerful woman in the world in 2016 and 2nd in the United Kingdom.<ref name="2016 powerful women">{{cite web|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/nicola-sturgeon/?list=power-women|website=Forbes|access-date=6 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812005503/http://www.forbes.com/profile/nicola-sturgeon/?list=power-women|archive-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36463186|title=Nicola Sturgeon ranked second most powerful woman in UK|work=BBC News|date=6 June 2016|access-date=6 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606170733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36463186|archive-date=6 June 2016}}</ref> In 2015, [[BBC Radio 4|BBC Radio 4's]] ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' assessed Sturgeon to be the most powerful and influential woman in the United Kingdom.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33325915|title=Nicola Sturgeon tops Woman's Hour power list|access-date=1 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701105057/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33325915|archive-date=1 July 2015|work=BBC News|date=July 2015}}</ref>
==Personal life==
[[File:Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon attended [[Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn]] from 1982–1988]]
Sturgeon lives in Glasgow with her husband, [[Peter Murrell]], who is the Chief Executive Officer of the SNP. The couple have been in a relationship since 2003. They announced their engagement on 29 January 2010,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://stv.tv/news/west-central/153973-nicola-sturgeon-announces-wedding-plans/ |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces wedding plans |publisher=STV |work=STV News |date=29 January 2010 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819145742/https://stv.tv/news/west-central/153973-nicola-sturgeon-announces-wedding-plans/ |archive-date=19 August 2017 }}</ref> and were married on 16 July 2010 at [[Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow|Òran Mór]] in Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-ties-the-knot-but-she-won-t-be-calling-herself-mrs-murrell-1-817668 |title=Nicola Sturgeon ties the knot — but she won't be calling herself Mrs Murrell |publisher=Johnston Press |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919114046/http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-ties-the-knot-but-she-won-t-be-calling-herself-mrs-murrell-1-817668 |archive-date=19 September 2016 }}</ref> Reflecting on her marriage in 2012, Sturgeon told ''The Daily Record'': “Being in the same kind of line of work has its up sides and its down sides. The up side is that Peter understands what’s going on and why I am late home all the time. The down side is that you just end up talking about it all the time and you never leave it outside."<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-spills-the-beans-on-her-home-1458433| title = Nicola Sturgeon spills the beans on her home life as she reveals she's a disaster in the kitchen - Daily Record| date = 27 November 2012}} </ref>
Sturgeon is known for her love of fiction and says reading, "gives me a lot of joy and helps with the stresses and strains of work".<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/nicola-sturgeon-discusses-favourite-books-author-maggie-ofarrell-204801| title = Nicola Sturgeon discusses favourite books with author Maggie O'Farrell {{!}} The Scotsman}} </ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1208400064210706432|user=NicolaSturgeon|title=📚 I love reading - it gives me a lot of joy and helps with the stresses and strains of work. I try (tho don’t alway…|date=21 December 2019}}</ref>
Her mother Joan was the SNP Provost of [[North Ayrshire]] council, where she was councillor for the Irvine East ward from 2007 until 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635 |title=The Nicola Sturgeon story |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031075316/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635 |archive-date=31 October 2016 }}</ref> In 2016, Sturgeon disclosed that she had miscarried five years previously.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37270135 |title=Nicola Sturgeon miscarriage: First minister reveals baby loss |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=4 September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907152846/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37270135 |archive-date=7 September 2016 }}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of First Ministers of Scotland]]
*[[List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{SP-MSP}}
* [http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm SNP profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715123308/http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |date=15 July 2016 }}
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{{Nicola Sturgeon}}
{{UK heads of governments}}
{{Current heads of government in the UK and dependencies}}
{{Leaders of British political parties}}
{{Scottish Cabinet}}
{{ScottishFirstMinisters}}
{{ScottishDeputyFirstMinisters}}
{{Scottish political leaders}}
{{Glasgow MSPs}}
{{SNP}}
{{SNP MSPs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturgeon, Nicola}}
[[Category:Nicola Sturgeon| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish women politicians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]]
[[Category:BBC 100 Women]]
[[Category:Deputy First Ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Female heads of government in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Women heads of government of non-sovereign entities]]
[[Category:First Ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Health ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Scottish National Party]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow constituencies]]
[[Category:People from Irvine, North Ayrshire]]
[[Category:Scottish feminists]]
[[Category:Scottish National Party MSPs]]
[[Category:Scottish nationalists]]
[[Category:Scottish people of English descent]]
[[Category:Scottish solicitors]]
[[Category:Scottish women lawyers]]
[[Category:Women members of the Scottish Government]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{short description|First Minister of Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = oot my way you bam
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]
| image = File:Nicola Sturgeon 2021.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2021
| order = <!--Order is used for U.S. politicians. Please do not add.-->
| office = [[First Minister of Scotland]]
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| deputy = [[John Swinney]]
| term_start = 20 November 2014
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Alex Salmond]]
| successor =
| office1 = [[Leader of the Scottish National Party]]
| deputy1 = {{ubl|[[Stewart Hosie]]|[[Angus Robertson]]|[[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]}}
| term_start1 = 14 November 2014
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Alex Salmond
| successor1 =
| office2 = [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland]]
| firstminister2 = Alex Salmond
| term_start2 = 17 May 2007
| term_end2 = 19 November 2014
| predecessor2 = [[Nicol Stephen, Baron Stephen|Nicol Stephen]]
| successor2 = John Swinney
| office3 = [[Scottish National Party#Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party|Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party]]
| leader3 = Alex Salmond
| term_start3 = 3 September 2004
| term_end3 = 14 November 2014
| predecessor3 = [[Roseanna Cunningham]]
| successor3 = [[Stewart Hosie]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Ministerial offices
|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]]
| firstminister4 = Alex Salmond
| term_start4 = 5 September 2012
| term_end4 = 19 November 2014
| predecessor4 = [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]]
| successor4 = [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]
| office5 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]
| firstminister5 = Alex Salmond
| term_start5 = 17 May 2007
| term_end5 = 5 September 2012
| predecessor5 = [[Andy Kerr (Scottish politician)|Andy Kerr]]
| successor5 = [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
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{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Parliamentary offices
|cont=yes |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]<br />for [[Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Southside]]<br /> {{nobold|[[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (2007–2011)}}
| term_start = 3 May 2007
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Gordon Jackson (politician)|Gordon Jackson]]
| successor =
| majority = 9,593 (38.5%)
| office1 = Member of the Scottish Parliament<br />for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}
| term_start1 = 6 May 1999
| term_end1 = 3 May 2007
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| birth_name = Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|7|19}}
| birth_place = [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], [[Ayrshire]], Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| signature = 20200228180454!Signature of Nicola Sturgeon - Edited.png
| party = [[Scottish National Party]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Peter Murrell]]|16 July 2010}}
| parents = {{ubl|Robin Sturgeon|Joan Kerr Ferguson}}
| residence = [[Bute House]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Glasgow]]
| cabinet = [[First Sturgeon government|1st]] [[Second Sturgeon government|2nd]] [[Third Sturgeon government|3rd]]
| website = [https://firstminister.gov.scot/ First Minister of Scotland]
| footnotes = {{notelist}}
}}
{{Nicola Sturgeon Sidebar}}
'''Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon''' (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician serving as [[First Minister of Scotland]] and [[Leader of the Scottish National Party]] (SNP) since 2014. She is the first woman to hold either position. She has been a [[member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) since 1999, first as an [[additional member system|additional member]] for the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow electoral region]], and as the member for [[Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Southside]] (formerly [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]]) from 2007.
A law graduate of the [[University of Glasgow]], Sturgeon worked as a [[solicitor]] in [[Glasgow]]. After being elected to the Scottish Parliament, she served successively as the SNP's shadow minister for education, health, and justice. 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]], standing instead as [[wikt:depute|depute]] (deputy)<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> leader on a joint ticket with Salmond. Both were subsequently elected, and as Salmond was still an MP in the House of Commons, Sturgeon led the SNP in the Scottish Parliament as [[Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)|Leader of the Opposition]] from 2004 to 2007. The SNP won the highest number of seats in the Scottish Parliament in [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|the 2007 election]] and Salmond was subsequently appointed first minister. He appointed Sturgeon as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] and [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]. She was appointed as [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]] in 2012.
Following the defeat of the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Salmond resigned and Sturgeon was [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|elected unopposed as SNP leader in November 2014]] and appointed as first minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resignation-nicola-sturgeon-destiny|title=Alex Salmond's resignation could give Nicola Sturgeon her day of destiny|author=Libby Brooks|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209154913/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resignation-nicola-sturgeon-destiny|archive-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|title=The transition from Alex Salmond to Nicola Sturgeon|first=Glenn|last=Campbell|work=BBC News|date=13 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117032228/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> Sturgeon led the SNP through the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] when it enjoyed a surge in support, recording a number of swings of over 30% from Labour, as it won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats and replaced the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] as the third-largest party in the [[British House of Commons]]. In the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016 election]], the SNP was returned as the largest single party in the [[Scottish Parliament]] but fell two seats short of a majority. Sturgeon secured a second term as first minister, forming an SNP [[minority government]]. In the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 UK referendum on EU membership]], Scotland voted by 62% to remain in the [[European Union]], despite [[Brexit]] receiving 52% of the vote across the UK.{{efn|In the [[Brexit referendum]], a majority of voters in every local authority area in Scotland voted to remain in 2016.}} Both before<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/07/snp-independence-referendum-wins-scottish-parliamentary-elections-nicola-sturgeon |title=SNP could hold independence referendum if it wins in 2016 |author=Severin Carrell |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011421|title=Sturgeon: Second referendum 'if and when Scotland wants it' |work=BBC News|date=31 July 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> and after the vote to leave the EU, Sturgeon's government has repeatedly [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|advocated for a second referendum on independence]]. The SNP gained a seat in the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], winning 64 seats, but fell one seat short of a majority. Sturgeon’s government subsequently entered [[Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement|a power-sharing agreement]] with the [[Scottish Greens]]. As First Minister, Sturgeon has been leading the [[Scottish Government]]'s response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland]] since 2020.
==Early life ==
=== Birth and family ===
Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/29961.aspx|title=11 May Vol. 1, No. 1 Session 4|date=23 June 2011|website=www.scottish.parliament.uk|access-date=28 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130014/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/29961.aspx|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> was born in [[Ayrshire Central Hospital]] in [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], on 19 July 1970.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lockhart |first1=Keely |last2=Daunt |first2=Joe |title=Nicola Sturgeon: SNP leader in 60 seconds |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/nicola-sturgeon-snp-leader-in-60-seconds/ |access-date=17 July 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813144931/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/21/nicola-sturgeon-snp-leader-in-60-seconds/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She is the eldest of three daughters born to Joan Kerr Sturgeon (''née'' Ferguson, born 1952), a [[Registered Dental Nurse|dental nurse]], and Robin Sturgeon (born 1948), an electrician.<ref>For her parents' names: [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U36626 "Sturgeon, Nicola"], ''Who's Who 2014'', A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, Nov 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015 (subscription required).</ref> Her family has some roots in [[North East England]]; her paternal grandmother was from [[Ryhope]] in what is now the [[City of Sunderland]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-32991705|title = Sunderland roots of SNP's Nicola Sturgeon|last = Rhodes|first = David|date = 3 June 2015|work = BBC News|access-date = 3 June 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150811072159/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-32991705|archive-date = 11 August 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> She grew up in [[Prestwick]] and [[Dreghorn]]. Her parents still live in the house she grew up in, which they bought from the local council under Margaret Thatcher's [[Right to Buy]] scheme.<ref name="triumph">{{citation |last=Jack |first=Ian |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=23 April 2015 |title=The triumph of Nicola Sturgeon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/the-triumph-of-nicola-sturgeon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423112841/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/the-triumph-of-nicola-sturgeon |archive-date=23 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Education and legal career ===
She attended Dreghorn Primary School from 1975 to 1982 and [[Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn|Greenwood Academy]] from 1982 to 1988. She later studied [[law]] at the [[University of Glasgow]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (Hons) in 1992 and a [[Diploma in Legal Practice]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alba.org.uk/scot07constit/g04.html |title=Candidates and Constituency Assessments |publisher=Alba.org.uk |access-date=17 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606052650/http://www.alba.org.uk/scot07constit/g04.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}</ref> During her time at the University of Glasgow she was active as a member of the [[Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association]] and the [[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]].
Following her graduation, Sturgeon completed her legal traineeship at [[McClure Naismith]], a Glasgow firm of solicitors, in 1995. After qualifying as a [[solicitor]], she worked for Bell & Craig, a firm of solicitors in [[Stirling]], and later at the [[Drumchapel]] [[Law Centre]] in [[Glasgow]] from 1997 until her election to the [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=26 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=21 November 2017|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915002848/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>
===Early political years===
In an interview with the BBC's ''[[Woman's Hour]]'', Sturgeon revealed that it was [[Margaret Thatcher]] who inspired her to enter politics, because, due to rising unemployment in Scotland at the time, she developed "a strong feeling that it was wrong for Scotland to be governed by a Tory government that we hadn't elected".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=26 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=14 September 2017|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915002848/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref>
Sturgeon joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) in 1986, having already become a member of the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]], and quickly became the party's Youth Affairs Vice Convener and Publicity Vice Convener.<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|access-date=6 July 2014|publisher=Scottish National Party|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708202748/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/apr/sturgeon-now-or-never-banish-trident|archive-date=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |title=About: Nicola Sturgeon MSP |publisher=Scottish National Party |access-date=2 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715123308/http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |archive-date=15 July 2016 }}</ref> She first stood for election in the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]] as the SNP candidate in the [[Glasgow Shettleston (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Shettleston]] constituency, and was the youngest parliamentary candidate in Scotland, failing to win the seat.
Sturgeon also stood unsuccessfully as the SNP candidate for the Irvine North [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]] on [[Cunninghame]] District Council in May 1992, for the [[Baillieston]]/[[Mount Vernon, Glasgow|Mount Vernon]] ward on [[Strathclyde|Strathclyde Regional Council]] in 1994, and for the [[Bridgeton, Glasgow|Bridgeton]] ward on [[Glasgow City Council]] in 1995.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}
In the mid-1990s Sturgeon and [[Charles Kennedy]] went together on a political study visit to Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32975311|title=Sturgeon on Charles Kennedy 'a most talented politician'|work=BBC News|date=2 June 2015|access-date=4 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602110544/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32975311|archive-date=2 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Dathan|first1=Matt|title=Nicola Sturgeon reveals how she and Charles Kennedy watched Trainspotting together as she pays tribute to former Lib Dem leader|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-reveals-how-she-and-charles-kennedy-watched-trainspotting-together-as-she-pays-tribute-to-former-lib-dem-leader-10292645.html|website=independent.co.uk|date=2 June 2015|access-date=4 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603075431/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-reveals-how-she-and-charles-kennedy-watched-trainspotting-together-as-she-pays-tribute-to-former-lib-dem-leader-10292645.html|archive-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>
The [[1997 United Kingdom general election|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, [[Mohammad Sarwar (politician)|Mohammed Sarwar]] and [[Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie|Mike Watson]], along with an energetic local campaign,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} 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]] nationwide. Sarwar did, however, win the seat with a majority of 2,914 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/05/0505/stats.shtml|title=BBC Politics 97|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324034533/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/05/0505/stats.shtml|archive-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> Shortly after this, Sturgeon was appointed as the SNP's spokesperson for energy and education matters.
==Member of the Scottish Parliament==
Sturgeon stood for election to the [[Scottish Parliament]] in the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|first Scottish Parliament election]] in 1999 as the SNP candidate for [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicola-Sturgeon|title=Nicola Sturgeon {{!}} Biography & Facts|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=21 November 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008035648/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicola-Sturgeon|archive-date=8 October 2017}}</ref> Although she failed to win the seat, she was placed first in the SNP's regional list for the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow region]], and was thus elected as a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]. During the first term of the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon served as a member of the [[Shadow Cabinet]]s of both [[Alex Salmond]] and [[John Swinney]]. She was [[Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning|Shadow Minister for Children and Education]] from 1999 to 2000. In the role she backed Labour's efforts to repeal Section 28 – a law that banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools. There was however significant public [[Keep the Clause campaign|opposition to repeal]] and an unscientific postal vote on the issue – organised by SNP donor [[Brian Souter]] – suggested most Scots wanted to keep the clause. Acknowledging this, Sturgeon suggested: "That is why the SNP have urged a policy for many months that we believe can provide people with the necessary reassurance, by providing a statutory underpinning to the guidelines, and resolve this difficult debate. We believe that the value of marriage should be clearly referred to in the guidelines, without denigrating other relationships or children brought up in other kinds of relationship." The compromise had the support of Souter but an amendment to that effect was voted down by MSPs who expressed concerns it would stigmatise children from single parent and unmarried families.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/769639.stm|title=BBC News | SCOTLAND | Poll 'backs' Section 28|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422033830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/769639.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
She also served as [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing|Shadow Minister for Health and Community Care]] from 2000 to 2003, and [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice|Shadow Minister for Justice]] from 2003 to 2004. She also served as a member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and the Health and Community Care Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/32242.aspx|title=Nicola Sturgeon|website=The Scottish Parliament|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717002405/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/32242.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Depute Leader and Leader of the Opposition ===
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon, DFM in Fort William.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon as Deputy First Minister speaking in [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], 2011]]On 22 June 2004, John Swinney resigned as Leader of the SNP following poor results in the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European Parliament election]]. His then-depute,<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> [[Roseanna Cunningham]], immediately announced her intention to stand for the leadership. The previous leader, Alex Salmond, announced at the time that he would not stand.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 June 2004|title=Under-fire SNP leader resigns|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3828657.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627024827/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3828657.stm|archive-date=27 June 2004}}</ref> On 24 June 2004, Sturgeon announced that she would also be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the leadership, with [[Kenny MacAskill]] as her running mate.<ref>{{cite news|date=24 June 2004|title=Sturgeon contests SNP leadership|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3835951.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040702040939/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3835951.stm|archive-date=2 July 2004}}</ref> The political columnist [[Iain Macwhirter]] declared that while she “didn't inspire great warmth”, she was “quick on her feet, lacks any ideological baggage and has real determination – unlike... Roseanna Cunningham”.<ref name="triumph" />
However, once Cunningham emerged as the favourite to win,<ref name="triumph" /> Salmond announced that his intention to stand for the leadership; Sturgeon subsequently withdrew from the contest and declared her support for Salmond, standing instead as his running mate for the depute<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swanson|first=Ian|title=Edinburgh News, "Salmond in shock bid for leader"|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=809422004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050921102702/http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=809422004|archive-date=21 September 2005|access-date=17 January 2011|publisher=Edinburghnews.scotsman.com}}</ref> The majority of the SNP hierarchy lent their support to the Salmond–Sturgeon bid for the leadership, although MSP [[Alex Neil (politician)|Alex Neil]] backed Salmond as leader, but refused to endorse Sturgeon as depute.<ref>{{cite web|last=Denholm|first=Andrew|title=Scotsman.com, "Salmond's arch-rival buries hatchet with declaration of support"|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=922912004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051101133105/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=922912004|archive-date=1 November 2005|access-date=17 January 2011|publisher=Thescotsman.scotsman.com}}</ref>
The results of the leadership contest were announced on 3 September 2004, with Salmond and Sturgeon elected as Leader and Depute<!-- This is how the SNP spell that word: "depute". It is not a spelling error--> Leader respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Leonard|first=Ian|date=9 May 2015|title=Why does Nicola Sturgeon not have a seat in Westminster?|work=Daily Mirror|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nicola-sturgeon-not-seat-westminster-5665836|url-status=live|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817084400/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nicola-sturgeon-not-seat-westminster-5665836|archive-date=17 August 2017}}</ref> As Salmond was still an MP in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], Sturgeon led the SNP at the Scottish Parliament until the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007 election]], when Salmond was elected as an MSP.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 September 2004|title=Salmond named as new SNP leader|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3622728.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529225434/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?rnd=1622328874158&ci=bbc&cg=0&sr=1600x1000&ts=v51.js&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20NEWS%20%7C%20UK%20%7C%20Scotland%20%7C%20Salmond%20named%20as%20new%20SNP%20leader&si=http%3A//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3622728.stm&rp=|archive-date=29 May 2021}}</ref>
As leader of the SNP in the Scottish Parliament, Sturgeon became a high-profile figure in Scottish politics and often clashed with [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Jack McConnell]] at [[First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)|First Minister's Questions]]. This included rows over the [[British House of Commons|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]].<ref>{{cite news|date=15 March 2007|title=Parties clash on Trident and tax|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6454509.stm|url-status=live|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319190615/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6454509.stm|archive-date=19 March 2007}}</ref>
== Deputy First Minister (2007–2014) ==
[[File:Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP.jpg|left|thumb|229x229px|Official portrait as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]], 2007]]Sturgeon defeated [[Gordon Jackson (politician)|Gordon Jackson]] with a 4.7% swing to the SNP in the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007 election]] in Glasgow Govan. The election resulted in a hung parliament, with the SNP the largest party by a single seat; the SNP subsequently formed a minority government. Sturgeon was appointed as the [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] and [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] by [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] Salmond. In the position she saw through party pledges such as scrapping prescription charges and reversing [[Emergency department|accident and emergency]] closures, she also became more widely known internationally for her handling of the [[2009 flu pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635|title=The Nicola Sturgeon story|work=BBC News|date=19 November 2014|access-date=20 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212154331/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635|archive-date=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/sturgeon-snp-scotland-independence-campaign|title=Rise of Nicola Sturgeon: from 'nippy sweetie' to SNP leader?|publisher=Channel 4 News|date=24 September 2014|access-date=20 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221003604/http://www.channel4.com/news/sturgeon-snp-scotland-independence-campaign|archive-date=21 December 2014}}</ref> She was supported in her role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing by [[Shona Robison]] MSP, the [[Minister for Public Health and Sport]], and by Alex Neil MSP, the [[Minister for Housing and Communities]].
At the [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011 election]], the SNP won a large overall majority. Sturgeon was retained as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing until a reshuffle one year later, when she was appointed as [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities]] and an additional role overseeing the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on]] [[Scottish independence]], essentially putting her in charge of the SNP's referendum campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19487544|title=Scottish cabinet reshuffle: Nicola Sturgeon given new independence role|date=5 September 2012|access-date=6 July 2014|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031082123/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19487544|archive-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>
In 2012 she pledged to build a high-speed railway line between Glasgow and Edinburgh by 2024, cutting journey times between the two cities to under 30 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20296195|title=High-speed rail plan for Glasgow to Edinburgh line|work=BBC News|date=12 November 2012|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420223717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20296195|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would "not wait" for Westminster to build a high-speed line to Scotland. However, in 2016 the plan was abandoned and the Scottish Government blamed Westminster.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35323728|title=High speed Glasgow-Edinburgh rail link plans 'shelved'|work=BBC News|date=15 January 2016|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420223717/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35323728|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2012, Sturgeon said that she believed that independence would allow Scotland to build a stronger and more competitive country, and would change spending priorities to address "the scandal of soaring poverty in a country as rich as Scotland".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221151359/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/25/scotland-independence-economy-grow-sturgeon |archive-date=21 December 2016}}</ref>
While campaigning for a Yes vote in August 2013, she told ''[[The Guardian]]'' that if Scots voted for the Union: "Will there be another referendum round the corner? No. We can't bind our successors, but we've made very clear our belief that constitutional referenda are once-in-a-generation events."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/24/nicola-sturgeon-scotland-better-off|title=Nicola Sturgeon interview: 'I do believe Scotland can be better off'|date=24 August 2013|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519072341/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/24/nicola-sturgeon-scotland-better-off|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Scottish Independence Referendum Bill (8577251468).jpg|thumb|Sturgeon, as Deputy First Minister, signs the ''[[Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013]]'']]
In November 2013, Sturgeon joined Salmond to launch [[Scotland's Future]] - the Scottish Government's prospectus for independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25088251|title = Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled|work = BBC News|date = 26 November 2013}}</ref> Sturgeon was one of the white paper's most high profile media champions and frequently debated its contents with opposition politicians and sceptical Scots. When the British Government turned down the Scottish Government's idea of a formal currency union - on the grounds that the rationale for sharing a currency with a foreign country was "not clear" - Sturgeon accused Westminster of trying to "bully Scotland" and said it would "cost their own businesses hundreds of millions in transaction costs".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon-accuses-3137607|title=Independence referendum: Nicola Sturgeon accuses Westminister of bullying over currency|date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/c064f562-93d2-11e3-bf0c-00144feab7de|title=Scottish minister Nicola Sturgeon hits back over sterling threat|newspaper=Financial Times|date=12 February 2014}}</ref>
During the campaign, the [[European Commission]] said that if Scots decided to leave the United Kingdom, it would also mean leaving the European Union. Scotland would then have to reapply for EU membership and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso predicted this would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26215963|title=Scottish independence: Barroso says joining EU would be 'difficult'|work=BBC News|date=16 February 2014|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420003054/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26215963|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2014 Sturgeon said this would put at risk the right of EU citizens to continue living in Scotland: "There are 160,000 EU nationals from other states living in Scotland, including some in the Commonwealth Games city of Glasgow. If Scotland was outside Europe, they would lose the right to stay here.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-warns-europeans-could-lose-right-stay-1531651|title=Sturgeon warns Europeans could lose right to stay|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=22 April 2021|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422101738/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/sturgeon-warns-europeans-could-lose-right-stay-1531651|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-19|title=UK minister: Sturgeon used EU nationals as bargaining chips|url=https://stv.tv/fia/1370381-uk-minister-sturgeon-used-eu-nationals-as-bargaining-chips/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-11|website=stv.tv|archive-date=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422101737/https://stv.tv/fia/1370381-uk-minister-sturgeon-used-eu-nationals-as-bargaining-chips/}}</ref>
On 19 September 2014, independence was rejected in the Scottish independence referendum, with 55.3% of the voters voting no and 44.7% voting yes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/sep/18/-sp-scottish-independence-referendum-results-in-full|title=Scottish independence referendum: final results in full|website=the Guardian|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118021834/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/sep/18/-sp-scottish-independence-referendum-results-in-full|archive-date=18 November 2014}}</ref> Following the defeat of the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign, Salmond announced his resignation as First Minister and Leader of the SNP. Sturgeon immediately announced that she would be a candidate in the election to replace him, and received huge support from the SNP hierarchy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-referendum-results-as-alex-salmond-steps-down-nicola-sturgeon-waits-for-her-chance-to-lead-9744791.html|title=Scottish referendum results: As Alex Salmond steps down, Nicola Sturgeon waits for her chance to lead|work=The Independent|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207170153/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-referendum-results-as-alex-salmond-steps-down-nicola-sturgeon-waits-for-her-chance-to-lead-9744791.html|archive-date=7 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alex-salmond-resigns-will-snp-deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-replace-him-1466335|title=Alex Salmond Resigns: Will SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Replace Him?|website=International Business Times UK|date=19 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202073510/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alex-salmond-resigns-will-snp-deputy-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-replace-him-1466335|archive-date=2 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11106839/Scottish-independence-referendum-results-live.html|title=Scottish independence: referendum results – live – ''The Daily Telegraph''|date=19 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020202621/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11106839/Scottish-independence-referendum-results-live.html|archive-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> Sturgeon said that there would be "no greater privilege" than to lead the SNP. On Salmond's resignation, Sturgeon said:
<blockquote>The personal debt of gratitude I owe Alex is immeasurable. He has been my friend, mentor and colleague for more than 20 years. Quite simply, I would not have been able to do what I have in politics without his constant advice, guidance and support through all these years. [...] I can think of no greater privilege than to seek to lead the party I joined when I was just 16. However, that decision is not for today.</blockquote>
Following the referendum defeat, Sturgeon said that "further devolution is the route to independence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-devo-is-route-to-independence-1-3563052|title=Nicola Sturgeon: 'Devo is route to independence'|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112072433/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-devo-is-route-to-independence-1-3563052|archive-date=12 November 2014}}</ref> She also opined that Scottish independence was a matter of "when, not if".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scottish-independence-when-not-if-says-nicola-sturgeon-1468625|title='Scottish Independence is a When Not an If' says Nicola Sturgeon|website=International Business Times UK|date=6 October 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129234132/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scottish-independence-when-not-if-says-nicola-sturgeon-1468625|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>
===Leadership of the Scottish National Party===
[[File:First Minister outside Bute House (15865040071).jpg|thumb|left|Sturgeon outside [[Bute House]] in Edinburgh upon her appointment as [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], 2014]]
On 24 September 2014, Sturgeon officially launched her campaign bid to succeed Salmond as Leader of the Scottish National Party at the [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|November leadership election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/24/nicola-sturgeon-campaign-succeed-alex-salmond-snp|title=Nicola Sturgeon launches campaign to succeed Alex Salmond|author=Severin Carrell|website=the Guardian|date=24 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016055030/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/24/nicola-sturgeon-campaign-succeed-alex-salmond-snp|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11117913/Nicola-Sturgeon-predicts-independence-one-day-as-she-launches-bid-to-replace-Alex-Salmond.html|title=Nicola Sturgeon predicts independence 'one day' as she launches bid to replace Alex Salmond|date=24 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014063327/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11117913/Nicola-Sturgeon-predicts-independence-one-day-as-she-launches-bid-to-replace-Alex-Salmond.html|archive-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> It quickly became apparent that no other candidate would be able to receive enough required nominations to run a credible leadership campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29292324|title=BBC News – Nicola Sturgeon backed by former SNP leader Gordon Wilson to replace Salmond|work=BBC News|date=20 September 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021063058/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29292324|archive-date=21 October 2014}}</ref> During the speech launching her campaign, Sturgeon announced that she would resign as Depute Leader, triggering a concurrent [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|depute leadership election]]; the MSPs [[Angela Constance]] and [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]] and the MP [[Stewart Hosie]] all nominated themselves to succeed Sturgeon as Depute Leader.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11122266/Keith-Brown-and-Stewart-Hosie-stand-for-SNP-deputy-leadership.html|title=Keith Brown and Stewart Hosie stand for SNP deputy leadership|date=25 September 2014|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113145639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11122266/Keith-Brown-and-Stewart-Hosie-stand-for-SNP-deputy-leadership.html|archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/angela-constance-i-know-why-yes-campaign-failed-1-3559358|title=Angela Constance: 'I know why Yes campaign failed'|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110230439/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/angela-constance-i-know-why-yes-campaign-failed-1-3559358|archive-date=10 November 2014}}</ref>
Nominations for the SNP leadership closed on 15 October, with Sturgeon confirmed as the only candidate. SNP convener [[Derek Mackay]] publicly congratulated Sturgeon as de facto leader in waiting, saying that she would be "a fantastic new leader" for both the SNP and for Scotland.<ref name="SNP leadership elections close">{{cite web|title=SNP leadership elections close |url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/close-nominations-snp-leadership-elections |website=SNP |publisher=SNP |access-date=15 October 2014 |ref=SNP Leadership elections |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017154520/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/close-nominations-snp-leadership-elections |archive-date=17 October 2014 }}</ref> On this date, Sturgeon also came out on top in a trust rating opinion poll, conducted for the SNP, which indicated that 54% of the Scottish population trusted her to "stand up for Scotland's interests".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-tops-politician-trust-rating-poll-1-3562244|title=Nicola Sturgeon tops politician trust rating poll|work=The Scotsman|date=3 October 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113124921/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-tops-politician-trust-rating-poll-1-3562244|archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>
At a speech in Dundee's Caird Hall on 7 November, Sturgeon pledged to be "the most accessible First Minister ever" when she took over. She also promised to hold a monthly Facebook question and answer session with members of the public, regular town hall meetings and that the Scottish Cabinet would meet outside Edinburgh once every two months.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=7 November 2014 |title=Sturgeon vows to be 'most accessible' first minister ever |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29942740 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520162457/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29942740 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sturgeon was formally acclaimed as the first female Leader of the SNP on 14 November 2014 at the Autumn Conference in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], with Hosie as her depute. This also made her First Minister-Designate, given the SNP's absolute majority in the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/new-snp-leadership-team-sturgeon-and-hosie|title=New SNP leadership team: Sturgeon and Hosie|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117035008/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/new-snp-leadership-team-sturgeon-and-hosie|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> In her first speech as leader, Sturgeon said that it was "the privilege of her life" to lead the party she joined as a teenager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011423|title=SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon appointed party leader|work=BBC News|date=14 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117060615/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30011423|archive-date=17 November 2014}}</ref>
==First Minister of Scotland==
{{Cleanup split|Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon|date=June 2021}}<!--This section is too long which resulted in the creation of a separate article for her tenure as First Minister. Do NOT remove this tag until this section is condensed.-->
{{Very long section|date=August 2021}}
{{main|Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon}}
===First term (2014–2016)===
On 18 November 2014, Salmond formally resigned as [[First Minister of Scotland]] and the election for the new first minister took place the following day. Sturgeon and [[Ruth Davidson]], the leader of the [[Scottish Conservative Party|Scottish Conservatives]], stood for election. The SNP's absolute majority made Sturgeon's election all but certain, and she received 66 votes, Davidson received 15 and there were 39 abstentions. On 20 November 2014, Sturgeon was formally sworn into office.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Nicola Sturgeon is elected first minister of Scotland|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30118626|work = BBC News|date = 19 November 2014|access-date = 28 January 2016|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150220125708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30118626|archive-date = 20 February 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-sworn-in-as-first-minister-1-3610975 |title=Nicola Sturgeon sworn in as First Minister |publisher=Johnston Press |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123073826/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/nicola-sturgeon-sworn-in-as-first-minister-1-3610975 |archive-date=23 November 2014 }}</ref> The same day, she was appointed to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] and therefore granted the style '[[The Right Honourable]]'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Privy Council appointments: November 2014|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-november-2014|website=Press release|publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street|access-date=16 April 2015|date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110103205/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-november-2014|archive-date=10 January 2015}}</ref> On 21 November, she unveiled her [[First Sturgeon government|Cabinet]] with a 50/50 gender balance, promoting [[Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth|Finance Secretary]] [[John Swinney]] to become her [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces Scottish cabinet with equal gender balance |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=2 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514192555/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |archive-date=14 May 2015 }}</ref>
====2015 UK general election====
Sturgeon's leadership was first tested in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 UK general election]]. She took part in several Scottish and UK-wide [[2015 United Kingdom general election debates|TV election debates]] in the run up to the election and according to opinion polls was regarded to have had a successful performance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/polls-confirm-nicola-sturgeon-tv-debate-success-1-3747812 |title=Polls "confirm Nicola Sturgeon TV debate success" |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=21 April 2015 |access-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100132/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/polls-confirm-nicola-sturgeon-tv-debate-success-1-3747812 |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}</ref> The SNP went on to win a [[landslide victory]] in Scotland, with 56 out of 59 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|title=BElection 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide|work=BBC News|date=8 May 2015|access-date=29 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521003643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|archive-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> They received 50% of the vote share in Scotland and replaced the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] as the third largest party in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|British House of Commons]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many Lib Dems have lost their seats in the 2015 general election?|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/how-many-lib-dems-have-lost-their-seats-2015-general-election|access-date=2021-08-07|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=8 May 2015|language=en}}</ref> As part of the election campaign, Sturgeon indicated that the SNP would hold another independence referendum if it won the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/07/snp-independence-referendum-wins-scottish-parliamentary-elections-nicola-sturgeon |title=SNP could hold independence referendum if it wins in 2016 |author=Severin Carrell |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC News"/>
==== 2016 Scottish Parliament election ====
[[File:Meeting of new Scottish Cabinet, 2016.jpg|thumb|First meeting of the [[Second Sturgeon government]]|234x234px]]
Sturgeon led the SNP through the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]]. She campaigned on a platform of freezing tax rates – dismissing Scottish Labour's call for tax rises on the wealthy to fund public services as "reckless and daft".<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon: Income tax rise for top earners 'daft' |date=23 March 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35883054 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324070439/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35883054 |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The SNP fell two seats short of securing another overall majority, but remained the largest party in the chamber, with more than double the seats of the next-largest party, the Scottish Conservatives.<ref name="results">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36243712 |title=New MSPs to arrive at Holyrood for first day |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509101055/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36243712 |archive-date=9 May 2016 }}</ref><ref name="map">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-36215186 |title=Election 2016: Before-and-after and party strength maps |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=6 May 2016 |access-date=9 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509104930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-36215186 |archive-date=9 May 2016 }}</ref>
===Second term (2016–2021)===
Sturgeon was formally nominated for a second term on 17 May, defeating Scottish Lib Dem leader [[Willie Rennie]] by a vote of 63 to 5, with 59 members abstaining.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892 | title=Nicola Sturgeon wins Scottish first minister vote | work=BBC News | publisher=BBC | date=17 May 2016 | access-date=17 May 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517211603/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892 | archive-date=17 May 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> She formed her [[Second Sturgeon government|second cabinet]] and re-appointed Swinney as her deputy.
====2016 EU membership referendum====
The UK Government held the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]] to decide the future of the United Kingdom's European Union membership, in which all 32 council areas in Scotland voted by a majority for the United Kingdom to remain a member of the EU. Across Scotland, 62% of voters backed the UK remaining a member of the EU, with 38% voting for the UK to leave. Overall 52% of voters in the United Kingdom voted for [[Brexit]] (leaving the EU), with 48% voting to remain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results|title=EU Referendum Results|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624000307/http://www.bbc.com/news/politics/eu_referendum/results|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon meets with David Cameron.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon meets with [[David Cameron]] at [[10 Downing Street]]|left|225x225px]]In response to the result, on 24 June 2016, Sturgeon said that [[Scottish Government]] officials would begin planning for a second independence referendum.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/scotland-could-seek-independence-again-after-u-k-brexit-vote-n598166|title=Scotland Seeks Independence Again After U.K. 'Brexit' Vote|first=Alastair|last=Jamieson|date=24 June 2016|work=NBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624095905/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/scotland-could-seek-independence-again-after-u-k-brexit-vote-n598166|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/brexit-scotland-independence-referendum.html|title=Scotland Says New Vote on Independence Is 'Highly Likely'|first=Kimiko|last=De Freytas-Tamura|date=25 June 2016|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216050257/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/brexit-scotland-independence-referendum.html|archive-date=16 February 2017}}</ref> Sturgeon claimed that it was "clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union" and that Scotland had "spoken decisively" with a "strong, unequivocal" vote to remain in the European Union.<ref name="ft2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06a90f8c-39c0-11e6-a780-b48ed7b6126f.html#axzz4CRXecPen|title=Scots' backing for Remain raises threat of union's demise|first=Mure|last=Dickie|date=24 June 2016|newspaper=Financial Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627153845/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06a90f8c-39c0-11e6-a780-b48ed7b6126f.html#axzz4CRXecPen|archive-date=27 June 2016}}</ref> Sturgeon said it was "democratically unacceptable" that Scotland could be taken out of the EU "against its will".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1716977/second-scotland-referendum-highly-likely|title=Second Scotland Referendum 'Highly Likely'|publisher=Sky News|date=24 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624120648/http://news.sky.com/story/1716977/second-scotland-referendum-highly-likely|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>
On 24 June, Sturgeon said she would communicate to all EU member states that Scotland had voted to stay in the EU.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/23/eu-referendum-result-live-counting-leave-remain-brain-in-europe|title=Nicola Sturgeon says second Scottish referendum 'highly likely' – as it happened|date=24 June 2016|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211043100/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/23/eu-referendum-result-live-counting-leave-remain-brain-in-europe|archive-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> An emergency Scottish cabinet meeting on 25 June agreed that the Scottish Government would seek to enter negotiations with the EU and its member states, to explore options to protect Scotland's place in the EU."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/25/sturgeon-seeks-urgent-brussels-talks-to-protect-scotlands-eu-membership|title=Sturgeon to lobby EU members to support Scotland's bid to remain|first1=Severin|last1=Carrell|first2=Jennifer|last2=Rankin|date=25 June 2016|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103182025/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/25/sturgeon-seeks-urgent-brussels-talks-to-protect-scotlands-eu-membership|archive-date=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="stv250616">{{cite web |url=http://stv.tv/news/politics/1358598-sturgeon-to-seek-eu-talks-to-protect-scotland-s-memebrship/ |title=Sturgeon to seek EU talks to 'protect' Scotland's membership |first=Aidan |last=Kerr |website=STV News |publisher=STV |date=25 June 2016 |access-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628005333/http://stv.tv/news/politics/1358598-sturgeon-to-seek-eu-talks-to-protect-scotland-s-memebrship/ |archive-date=28 June 2016 }}</ref> Sturgeon later said that while she believed in Scottish independence, her starting point in these discussions was to protect Scotland's relationship with the EU.<ref>
{{cite news |author=Press Association<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Nicola Sturgeon says independence vote would be proposed 'if best or only way to protect EU place' |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/215192/nicola-sturgeon-says-independence-vote-proposed-best-way-protect-eu-place/ |newspaper=The Courier |location=Dundee, Scotland |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629154441/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/215192/nicola-sturgeon-says-independence-vote-proposed-best-way-protect-eu-place/ |archive-date=29 June 2016 }}</ref> May's comments confirmed that the PM wanted the Scottish government to be "fully engaged" in the process.
====Future referendum on independence====
Sturgeon confirmed in June 2016 that the Scottish government had formally agreed to draft legislation to allow a second independence referendum to take place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36631738|title=EU referendum: The 'stark difference' between Wales and Scotland|work=BBC News|date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628182427/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36631738|archive-date=28 June 2016}}</ref> As the constitution is a reserved matter under the [[Scotland Act 1998]], for a future referendum on Scottish independence to be legal under UK law, it would need to receive the consent of the British Parliament to take place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents|title=Scotland Act 1998|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629003653/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents|archive-date=29 June 2016}}</ref>
Prior to the day the Prime Minister triggered [[Article 50]], formally allowing the process of the United Kingdom leaving the [[European Union]], the [[Scottish Parliament]] voted 69 to 59 in favour of another independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/28/scottish-parliament-votes-for-second-independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon|title=Scottish parliament votes for second independence referendum|last=editor|first=Severin Carrell Scotland|date=28 March 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 April 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406103856/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/28/scottish-parliament-votes-for-second-independence-referendum-nicola-sturgeon|archive-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> By the end of that week, on 30 March 2017, Sturgeon wrote to the Prime Minister requesting a Section 30 order, formally devolving the responsibility and power to the [[Scottish Government]] to plan for and hold another referendum on Scottish Independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-independence-referendum-theresa-may-request-a7659201.html|title=Nicola Sturgeon writes letter to Theresa May requesting second Scottish independence referendum|last=Osborne|first=Samuel|date=31 March 2017|work=The Independent|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061701/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-independence-referendum-theresa-may-request-a7659201.html|archive-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> Previously, May and [[David Mundell]], [[Secretary of State for Scotland]], have both highlighted that as the negotiations begin with the European Union on the United Kingdom's withdraw, it is important for Scotland to work with the UK Government to get the best exit deal for both the United Kingdom and Scotland, stating that "now is not the time for another referendum".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/theresa-may-now-is-not-the-time-for-indyref2-1-4393668|title=Theresa May: 'Now is not the time' for indyref2|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=6 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061410/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/theresa-may-now-is-not-the-time-for-indyref2-1-4393668|archive-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
Following the 2017 UK general election, Nicola Sturgeon announced that the Scottish Government would postpone legislation pertaining to the proposed second referendum on Scottish independence until at least autumn 2018, when it is believed that the outcome of Brexit negotiations should become clearer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/voters-want-break-says-nicola-sturgeon-postpones-indyref2/|title=Voters want a break, says Nicola Sturgeon as she postpones IndyRef2|last=Green|first=Chris|date=27 June 2017|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050042/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/voters-want-break-says-nicola-sturgeon-postpones-indyref2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
====European Union membership====
[[File:FM meets with Juncker.jpg|thumb|228x228px|Sturgeon meets [[Jean-Claude Juncker]], [[President of the European Commission]] in [[Brussels]], 2017]]
In response to the UK-wide vote for the United Kingdom to leave the [[European Union]], the [[Scottish Government]], headed by Sturgeon, launched the ''Scotland's Place in Europe'' document, a white paper setting out the Scottish Government's aims and wishes of Scotland's role in Europe post-Brexit. The paper was sent to the central [[British Government]] to be read by Prime Minister [[Theresa May]].
In June 2017, Sturgeon criticised the approaches taken by both [[Theresa May]] and the British Government towards the Brexit approach, claiming that May "will struggle" as she is a "difficult person to build a rapport with". In the same interview, Sturgeon committed to no independence referendum being held prior to the terms of a UK wide Brexit deal being agreed and presented.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/06/nicola-sturgeon-says-difficult-theresa-may-will-struggle-with-brexit-talks |title=Nicola Sturgeon says 'difficult' Theresa May will struggle with Brexit talks |access-date=8 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714061853/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/06/nicola-sturgeon-says-difficult-theresa-may-will-struggle-with-brexit-talks |archive-date=14 July 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 June 2017 |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Carrell |first2=Severin }}</ref>
With a view towards Brexit, Sturgeon demanded greater powers for the Scottish Parliament, arguing that Brexit is threatening Scotland's [[Scottish devolution settlement|devolution settlement]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-calls-for-united-front-to-protect-devolution-1-4556755|title=Nicola Sturgeon calls for united front to protect devolution|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=14 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912131031/http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-calls-for-united-front-to-protect-devolution-1-4556755|archive-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> With London seeking to restrict immigration to the United Kingdom, she asserted that Scotland should be able to set its own immigration policy, as well as policies relating to employment and trade.<ref name=":0" />
==== 2017 UK general election ====
{{Main|2017 United Kingdom general election}}[[File:First Minister meets the Prime Minister at Bute House.jpg|thumb|241x241px|Sturgeon meets with [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Theresa May]], at [[Bute House]] in Edinburgh, 2016|left]]Sturgeon kicked off her election campaign pledging that a strong result for the SNP would "reinforce" her mandate for a second independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ross|first=Jamie|title=Nicola Sturgeon Says The General Election Could "Reinforce" Her Plans For IndyRef2|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/nicola-sturgeon-says-the-general-election-could-reinforce|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193348/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/nicola-sturgeon-says-the-general-election-could-reinforce|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|website=BuzzFeed}}</ref> However, the SNP lost 21 seats in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election in Scotland]] and the party's vote dropped by 13%, although they remained the biggest party in Scotland. Sturgeon admitted that these results were "bitterly disappointing" and acknowledged that her party's plans for a second referendum were 'undoubtedly' a factor in the election results.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 June 2017|title=Sturgeon: Indyref2 'factor' in SNP losses|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40216748|url-status=live|access-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106051828/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40216748|archive-date=6 January 2021}}</ref> It was the best result for the Scottish Conservatives since Margaret Thatcher and the party's campaign slogan, "We said No to independence. We meant it", resonated in areas that had voted strongly for the Union in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 June 2017|title=Is Scotland on the cusp of a Tory resurgence?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40105177|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422131324/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40105177|archive-date=22 April 2021|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> Observers also concluded that opposition to the EU's [[Common Fisheries Policy]] in coastal communities was a factor behind large swings to the Tories in North East seats previously held by nationalists for decades.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Carrell|first=Severin|date=27 June 2017|title=Moray: 'We are fed up with the SNP. It's as simple as that'|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/27/moray-fed-up-with-snp-simple-as-that-scotland-election|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111223525/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/27/moray-fed-up-with-snp-simple-as-that-scotland-election|archive-date=11 November 2020|access-date=20 April 2021|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 July 2017|title=Scots are not becoming more conservative: three factors behind the Tory 'revival' in North East Scotland|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-conservative-revival-scotland/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420160854/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/explaining-conservative-revival-scotland/|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
Several weeks later Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that she would "reset" and delay her plans for a second independence referendum; the SNP losses in that month's election had led her to conclude that many Scots "just want a break from making big political decisions".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40415457|title=Nicola Sturgeon puts Scottish independence referendum bill on hold|work=BBC News|date=27 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/nicola-sturgeon-refuses-abandon-indy-ref-2-promises-new-timetable/|title = Nicola Sturgeon refuses to abandon indy ref 2 and promises new timetable in 2018|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 27 June 2017|last1 = Johnson|first1 = Simon}}</ref>
====Alex Salmond sexual harassment case====
{{Main|Alex Salmond scandal}}
In January 2019, Sturgeon referred herself to an independent ministerial ethics body, which will lead to an investigation into her actions with respect to a [[Alex Salmond#Trial and acquittal on sexual misconduct allegations|sexual harassment case concerning allegations against Salmond]]. This followed her admitting that she had a secret meeting and subsequent phone call with Salmond about the Scottish government's allegations against him. She raised these with the Permanent Secretary to the [[Scottish Government]], [[Leslie Evans]], two months later, rather than reporting them immediately, as she should if they constitute government matters (as per the ministerial code). Sturgeon argued that the meetings were SNP party matters, and thus not covered. The investigating panel consisted of Dame [[Elish Angiolini]], a former [[Solicitor General for Scotland]] and [[lord advocate]], and [[James Hamilton (barrister)|James Hamilton]], a former [[Director of Public Prosecutions (Ireland)|director of public prosecutions]] in the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/13/nicola-sturgeon-refers-herself-ethics-body-salmond-case|title=Sturgeon refers herself to ethics body over actions in Salmond case|first=Severin Carrell Scotland|last=editor|date=13 January 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-date=13 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113174406/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/13/nicola-sturgeon-refers-herself-ethics-body-salmond-case|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:A National Conversation launch.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon and [[Alex Salmond]] at A National Conversation, 2007]]
On 15 January 2019, the [[Scottish Parliament]] agreed to hold its own inquiry into the matter, the [[Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/111052.aspx|title=Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints|date=23 December 2020|website=www.parliament.scot|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301171042/https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/111052.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> to investigate how the Government breached its own guidelines in its original investigation into the harassment claims against Salmond, and then lost a judicial review into their actions and had to pay over £500,000 to Salmond for legal expenses.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46876847|title=MSPs to hold inquiry over Salmond row|date=15 January 2019|access-date=15 January 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116051341/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46876847|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56209521|title=Alex Salmond says there is 'no doubt' Nicola Sturgeon broke ministerial code|date=26 February 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|work=BBC News|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303023053/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56209521|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon's husband, [[Peter Murrell]], was called to this inquiry to give evidence on 8 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alex Salmond inquiry likely to recall SNP chief exec and Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-likely-recall-snp-chief-exec-and-nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-3062334|access-date=2020-12-10|work=The Scotsman|language=en|archive-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209124334/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-likely-recall-snp-chief-exec-and-nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-3062334|url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition parties criticised Sturgeon on disparity and contradictions between the narratives of Murrell and herself.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-09|title=MSPs bid to recall SNP chief Peter Murrell to Salmond inquiry|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55247449|access-date=2020-12-10|archive-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209150459/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55247449|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sturgeon initially told parliament that she had first heard of the complaints against Salmond when he told her of them at a meeting on 2 April 2018.<ref name="auto"/> However, 18 months later, she revised her account, saying she had forgotten about an earlier meeting, on 29 March 2018, in which Salmond's former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein told her about the complaints.<ref name="auto"/> Critics have described this as a possible breach of the ministerial code, which states that any minister who deliberately misleads parliament should resign.<ref name="auto"/> The 29 March meeting was not recorded: meetings on government business are meant to be recorded, but Sturgeon has said this is because it was an SNP meeting.<ref name="auto"/> In his evidence to the committee, Salmond said there was "no doubt" that Sturgeon had broken the ministerial code in not revealing the 29 March meeting sooner and in not recording what was really a meeting about government business.<ref name="auto"/> Sturgeon denied any wrongdoing.<ref name="auto"/> Documents and emails published on 2 March 2021 showed that two people supported Salmond's assertion that the meeting was convened as a government, not party, matter.<ref name="Salmond2Mar21" /> The publication also backed up Salmond's allegation that the identity of one of his accusers had been passed to his former chief of staff, contradicting Sturgeon's statement that "to the very best of my knowledge I do not think that happened".<ref name="Salmond2Mar21">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56259056|title=Calls for Nicola Sturgeon to quit over Alex Salmond revelations|date=2 March 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|work=BBC News|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302183544/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56259056|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 4 March 2021 Sturgeon answered questions over a period of eight hours from members of the Committee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eardley |first=Nick |work=[[BBC News]] |date=4 March 2021 |title=Team Sturgeon breathes a sigh of relief |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56281854 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323052015/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56281854 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> She was challenged on her Government's unlawful handling of the probe against Salmond and Labour's Deputy Leader [[Jackie Baillie]] asked her: “You have described these errors as 'catastrophic'. That's a strong word, tell me why then nobody has resigned? Nobody has taken responsibility of this, because at the heart of this two women have been let down.”<ref>{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Gina |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=3 March 2021 |title=Alex Salmond inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon and Jackie Baillie clash over legal advice |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-and-jackie-baillie-clash-over-legal-advice-3153489 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603024436/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-and-jackie-baillie-clash-over-legal-advice-3153489 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sturgeon said she “deeply regretted” the mistakes her Government had made, while denying the existence of a conspiracy against Salmond.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forrest |first1=Adam |last2=Tidman |first2=Zoe |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon apologises to women 'failed' by botched Salmond investigation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-apologises-salmond-inquiry-b1811545.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506235055/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-apologises-salmond-inquiry-b1811545.html |archive-date=6 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Nicola Sturgeon with Leo Varadkar 2019.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon with then-[[Taoiseach]] [[Leo Varadkar]] at [[British–Irish Council|British-Irish Council Summit]], 2019|left|223x223px]]On 19 March 2021, it was reported that a majority of MSPs on the Committee had voted to affirm that Nicola Sturgeon misled the inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-19|title=MSPs on Alex Salmond committee say Nicola Sturgeon misled them|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56451170|access-date=2021-03-21|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320191453/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56451170|url-status=live}}</ref> The MSPs concluded that it was "hard to believe" Sturgeon when she told Parliament she had not known about concerns of inappropriate behaviour against Salmond before November 2017. It also determined that Sturgeon gave an "inaccurate account" of what happened when she met Salmond at her home on 2 April 2018 and as such had misled the committee.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=19 March 2021 |title=Nicola Sturgeon rejects claims over Alex Salmond inquiry evidence |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56459301 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410200908/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56459301 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, a representative for Sturgeon claimed that the committee were simply "smearing" the First Minister and being party-political.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-25|title=Independent MSP Andy Wightman defends Holyrood inquiry report|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56513356|access-date=2021-04-10|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410195324/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56513356|url-status=live}}</ref>
The following week James Hamilton's report cleared Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code in a number of areas relating to her dealings with Salmond; while caveating that, “It is for the Scottish parliament to decide whether they were in fact misled.”<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Libby |date=22 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=What did report that cleared Sturgeon of misleading Scottish parliament say? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/22/what-did-the-report-that-cleared-nicola-sturgeon-of-misleading-parliament-say |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529225021/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/22/what-did-the-report-that-cleared-nicola-sturgeon-of-misleading-parliament-say |archive-date=29 May 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Scottish Conservatives tabled a motion of no confidence in her as First Minister, a decision Sturgeon described as "bullying".<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news |last=Merrick |first=Rob |work=[[The Independent]] |date=23 March 2021 |title=Defiant Nicola Sturgeon wins vote of no confidence and says she will 'not be bullied out of office' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-no-confidence-vote-result-b1821242.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324170621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-no-confidence-vote-result-b1821242.html |archive-date=24 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Holyrood Tory leader, [[Ruth Davidson]], said that, "By misleading this [[Scottish Parliament]], she misled the people of Scotland too. No First Minister who truly wanted to live up to the ideals of this parliament should feel able to continue in post after having been judged guilty of misleading it."<ref name="independent.co.uk" /> The motion was defeated by 65 votes to 31, with Greens MSPs voting with the Government, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats opted to abstain.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[BBC News]] |date=23 March 2021 |title=Sturgeon survives Holyrood confidence vote over Salmond row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56494684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603012918/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56494684 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC Alex">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56496069|title=Alex Salmond complainers claim government 'dropped' them|date=23 March 2021|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426094814/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56496069|url-status=live}}</ref>
Two of the civil servants who made complaints about Salmond later said they felt they had been "dropped" by the Scottish Government after it lost the judicial review against him, adding they feared their experiences would make it less likely people would make complaints in the future.<ref name="BBC Alex" /> Labour MP [[Jess Phillips]], a former employee of [[Women's Aid]], accused Sturgeon of being "unprofessional with those women's lives" and said there had been a "litany of failures in professionalism and decency."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/snp-alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-b1813369.html|title=The SNP mess has left me flabbergasted – what kind of message does it send? | Jess Phillips|date=6 March 2021|website=The Independent|access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426115308/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/snp-alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeon-b1813369.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
====2019 UK general election====
{{Main|2019 United Kingdom general election}}
[[File:Johnson met with Nicola Sturgeon for Union of Scotland.jpg|thumb|230x230px|[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]], [[Boris Johnson]], meets with Sturgeon at [[Bute House]], 2019]]Sturgeon led her party to a [[landslide victory]] in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election in Scotland]]. The SNP won 48 seats, and came second place in the 11 others; their 45% of the vote yielded 80% of the seats in Scotland.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50789131|title=Election 2019: the result in Scotland in numbers|last=Sim|first=Philip|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214042344/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50789131|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the election casualties was [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] leader [[Jo Swinson]], who lost her seat in [[East Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Dunbartonshire.]] Sturgeon was branded as "ungracious" when she was filmed by [[Sky News]] celebrating Swinson's defeat. Sturgeon apologised for being overexcited although expressed that she was celebrating [[Amy Callaghan]]'s win.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/dec/13/nicola-sturgeon-celebrates-as-snp-candidate-takes-jo-swinsons-seat-video|title=Nicola Sturgeon filmed celebrating Jo Swinson's defeat to SNP's Amy Callaghan – video|last1=Sky|first1=Source|date=13 December 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 December 2019|last2=Reuters|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213112106/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/dec/13/nicola-sturgeon-celebrates-as-snp-candidate-takes-jo-swinsons-seat-video|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-i-got-overexcited-in-reaction-to-jo-swinson-loss-11885572|title=Nicola Sturgeon: 'I got overexcited' in reaction to Jo Swinson loss|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=14 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213180219/https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-i-got-overexcited-in-reaction-to-jo-swinson-loss-11885572|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-branded-ungracious-after-celebrating-jo-swinson-losing-her-seat-1-5062027|title=Nicola Sturgeon branded 'ungracious' after celebrating Jo Swinson losing her seat|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=14 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213143019/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-branded-ungracious-after-celebrating-jo-swinson-losing-her-seat-1-5062027|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-tips-east-dunbartonshires-amy-callaghan-to-be-one-of-the-stars-of-the-commons/|title=Nicola Sturgeon tips East Dunbartonshire's Amy Callaghan to be one of the stars of the Commons|last=Swindon|first=Peter|website=The Sunday Post|language=en-US|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323140322/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-tips-east-dunbartonshires-amy-callaghan-to-be-one-of-the-stars-of-the-commons/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the wake of the results, Sturgeon said that [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]] has "no right" to stand in the way of another Scottish independence referendum after an "overwhelming" SNP election victory. She also said that the result "renews, reinforces and strengthens" the mandate for [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|Indyref2]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50779724|title=Sturgeon: PM has 'no right' to block Indyref2|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213223059/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50779724|url-status=live}}</ref>
====COVID–19 pandemic====
{{see|COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland}}
[[File:First Minister's COVID-19 Statement - 16 April 2020 (49781060278).jpg|thumb|left|Sturgeon addressing the nation at a Scottish Government daily COVID-19 briefing]]
The [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] occurred during Sturgeon's second term as First Minister. To contain and limit the number of affected people in Scotland, Sturgeon and the [[Scottish Government]] highlighted a number of measures advised by [[NHS Scotland]], initially maintaining effective hand washing.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51904721 |title=Coronavirus: Some Scottish schools close for deep clean – BBC News |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=16 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316141218/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51904721 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first confirmed case of the virus in Scotland was announced on 1 March 2020, when a resident in [[Tayside]] had tested positive. In the following days, Sturgeon issued further advice and guidance as the number of positive cases began to increase, but had said that closures of public places such as schools and shops "would be reviewed".<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
Initially, the Scottish Government resisted banning public events and on 12 March allowed 47,000 fans to attend a Rangers match at Ibrox, insisting that, “stopping mass gatherings [is] not the best way to contain this virus.”<ref name=earlier_lockdown>{{cite news |last=McCall |first=Chris |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |title=Nicola Sturgeon admits Scotland would have been in lockdown earlier if she 'could turn the clock back' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-admits-scotland-would-24241982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603211559/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-admits-scotland-would-24241982 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on 18 March Sturgeon announced to the [[Scottish Parliament]] that all schools and nurseries in Scotland would close on 20 March to try and limit the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51928400 |title=Coronavirus: Schools in Scotland and Wales to close from Friday – BBC News |work=BBC News |date=18 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=21 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321155824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51928400 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 March, Sturgeon issued a statement, placing Scotland on a "lockdown", limiting the reasons as to why people may leave their homes in an increase attempt to limit the spread of the virus, to protect the health of the population, as well as to ease the pressure the virus places on [[NHS Scotland]] services and workforce.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52007540 |title=Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon says new rules amount to 'lockdown' – BBC News |work=BBC News |date=23 March 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405092251/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52007540 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then restrictions have been frequently tightened, loosened and adapted in parts or all of Scotland to respond to developments in the situation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SPICe|date=2021-01-22|title=Timeline of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland|url=https://spice-spotlight.scot/2021/01/22/timeline-of-coronavirus-covid-19-in-scotland/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=SPICe Spotlight {{!}} Solas air SPICe|language=en-GB|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128074239/https://spice-spotlight.scot/2021/01/22/timeline-of-coronavirus-covid-19-in-scotland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the early stages of the pandemic 1,300 elderly hospital patients were transferred into care homes without receiving a negative coronavirus test result.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56680666|title=Covid in Scotland: Government 'failed' social care sector during pandemic|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423042548/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56680666|url-status=live}}</ref> Many had been infected with the virus and ended up passing it on to other care home residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-health-minister-admits-coronavirus-23879626|title=SNP Health Minister admits covid mistake in transferring patients to care homes|first=Torcuil|last=Crichton|date=8 April 2021|website=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423124105/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-health-minister-admits-coronavirus-23879626|url-status=live}}</ref> Over three thousand care home residents died from coronavirus<ref name="thetimes.co.uk">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-covid-error-turned-care-homes-into-morgues-xt2652t8k|title=Ministers' Covid error 'turned care homes into morgues'|first=John Boothman and Mark|last=Macaskill|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415133955/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-covid-error-turned-care-homes-into-morgues-xt2652t8k|url-status=live}}</ref> and Gary Smith, Scotland Secretary of the [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]], said the policy had turned “care homes into morgues”.<ref name="thetimes.co.uk" /> When asked by the BBC if the policy had been a mistake, Sturgeon said: "Looking back on that now, with the knowledge we have now and with the benefit of hindsight, yes."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56791600|title=Covid in Scotland: 'Mistake' to discharge Covid patients says Sturgeon|work=BBC News|date=18 April 2021}}</ref>[[File:British-Irish Council Summit 2020 - 6 November 2020 (50572368836).jpg|thumb|226x226px|Sturgeon speaking virtually at the [[British–Irish Council|British-Irish Council]] Summit 2020]]In April 2020 whistle-blowers in the NHS came forward to reveal that staff were being made to reuse dirty personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work. One nurse told STV, "[When we hear the government say supplies are fine] it's not frustrating, it's crushing. It is absolutely crushing. We feel we are being lied to."<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Louise |work=[[STV News]] |date=17 April 2020 |title=Whistleblower: Nurses forced to reuse and share single-use PPE |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/whistleblower-nurses-forced-to-reuse-and-share-single-use-ppe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604171200/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/whistleblower-nurses-forced-to-reuse-and-share-single-use-ppe?top |archive-date=4 June 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament in July, "At no point within this crisis has Scotland run out of any aspect of PPE. We have worked hard to make sure that supplies are there, we’ve worked hard overcoming challenges that we have faced along the way."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Calum |work=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]] |date=9 July 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon defends PPE record after we revealed pre-pandemic warnings |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1433810/coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-defends-ppe-record-after-we-revealed-pre-pandemic-warnings/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904053717/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1433810/coronavirus-nicola-sturgeon-defends-ppe-record-after-we-revealed-pre-pandemic-warnings/ |archive-date=4 September 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2020, Sturgeon advocated that the leaders of the four UK nations adopt a coordinated [[Zero-COVID]] strategy.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last=Torjesen|first=Ingrid|date=3 August 2020|title=Covid-19: Should the UK be aiming for elimination?|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3071.full|journal=[[The BMJ]]|volume=370|pages=m3071|doi=10.1136/bmj.m3071|pmid=32747404|s2cid=220922348}}</ref>
In February 2021 Audit Scotland published a report that concluded the Scottish Government had not prepared adequately for a pandemic. While it commended the authorities for preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during the crisis, the watchdog also noted that recommendations from pandemic planning exercises in 2015, 2016 and 2018 had not been fully implemented. One particular problem it highlighted was that not enough had been done to ensure Scottish hospitals and care homes had enough personal protective equipment. Overall, it concluded that ministers "could have been better prepared to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic". Sturgeon said there were "lots of lessons to learn".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|title=Covid in Scotland: Inadequate preparations for Covid, says watchdog|work=BBC News|date=17 February 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420190007/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|title=Scottish government inadequately prepared for Covid – watchdog|date=17 February 2021|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424084033/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2021, the [[Court of Session]] declared that the Scottish Government's prohibition on communal worship, imposed during the pandemic, was unlawful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56511585 |title=Covid in Scotland: Places of worship can open now after court win |work=BBC News |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411172221/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56511585 |url-status=live }}</ref> This followed an open letter two months earlier, written by 200 church leaders to Sturgeon, warning her that the prohibition could be unlawful.<ref>{{cite web |last=Petrie |first=Calum |date=13 January 2021 |title=Church leaders pile pressure on Sturgeon to lift public worship ban |publisher= |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/2808139/church-leaders-pile-pressure-on-sturgeon-to-lift-public-worship-ban/ |website=The Press and Journal |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411172220/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/2808139/church-leaders-pile-pressure-on-sturgeon-to-lift-public-worship-ban/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April 2021 Scotland's death toll from coronavirus passed 10,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231926.covid-scotland-official-figures-show-death-toll-now-passed-10-000/|title=Scotland's Covid death toll officially passes 10,000|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420155534/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231926.covid-scotland-official-figures-show-death-toll-now-passed-10-000/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56759166|title=The full picture of Covid-linked deaths in Scotland's care homes|work=BBC News|date=19 April 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420215612/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56759166|url-status=live}}</ref>
At a session of First Minister's Questions in June 2021, Sturgeon was asked about mistakes made early on in the pandemic and she replied: "If I could turn the clock back, would we go into lockdown earlier than we did? Yes, I think that is true."<ref name=earlier_lockdown />
====Drugs deaths crisis====
In 2016 the Scottish Government cut direct funding to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes from £69.2 million to £53.8 million – a drop of 22%.<ref name="heraldscotland">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14241634.health-boards-told-fill-15-million-cut-funding-drug-alcohol-care/|title = Health boards told to fill £15 million cut in funding for drug and alcohol care}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.randoxtestingservices.com/proposed-cuts-on-funding-for-drug-and-alcohol-rehabilitation-in-scotland/|title=Proposed cuts on funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Scotland|date=12 February 2016}}</ref> At the time, Scottish Drugs Forum Chief Executive David Liddell said he was concerned that the cuts had "the potential to increase harm and drug-related deaths."<ref name="heraldscotland" /> That year 867 Scots lost their lives to drugs – an increase of 23% on the previous year's figures – and the SNP insisted it was part of a trend seen across much Europe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40935150|title=Drug deaths in Scotland rose by 23% in 2016|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2017}}</ref> In December 2020 figures were released revealing that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drug overdoses in 2019 – the highest number in Europe per head and more than double the number in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961|title=Scotland's drug deaths rise to new record|work=BBC News|date=15 December 2020|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419101029/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961|url-status=live}}</ref> Sturgeon sacked her Public Health Minister [[Joe FitzPatrick]] and in April 2021 said of the crisis: "I think we took our eye off the ball."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231212.nicola-sturgeon-took-eye-off-ball-drug-deaths/|title=Sturgeon: We took our eye off the ball on drug deaths|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154709/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19231212.nicola-sturgeon-took-eye-off-ball-drug-deaths/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The crisis has particularly impacted the homeless in Scotland; 216 homeless people died in Scotland in 2019 – an increase of 11% on the previous year and of which over half (54%) were drug related.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56168728|title=Deaths among homeless people in Scotland up 10%|work=BBC News|date=23 February 2021|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423095158/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56168728|url-status=live}}</ref> Per head, Scotland's death rate among the homeless is the highest in Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19110583.scotlands-homeless-death-rate-worst-britain---200-die-year/|title='Scandalous': Scotland's homeless death rate worst in Britain – as over 200 die in a year|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423095153/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19110583.scotlands-homeless-death-rate-worst-britain---200-die-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2021 the Scottish Government announced there had been 1,339 drug deaths in the previous year – a new record high.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58024296|title=Drug deaths in Scotland reach new record level|work=BBC News|date=30 July 2021}}</ref> Sturgeon described the figures as "unacceptable, each one a human tragedy",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-expected-to-hit-record-levels-for-the-seventh-year-in-a-row-12367604|title = Scotland: Drug deaths hit record level for seventh year in a row – here's what the data shows}}</ref> while the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: "It was Nicola Sturgeon's choice to ignore this unfolding epidemic. Issuing apologies now is too late for thousands of people. The victims of drugs and their families were failed. It is a scar on the conscience of this Scottish Government."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-accused-ignoring-drug-24650027|title=Nicola Sturgeon accused of ignoring drug deaths epidemic in Scotland|date=30 July 2021}}</ref>
====Education====
In 2015 Sturgeon said that she planned to make education her "defining priority" while in office.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32874215|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish education 'not good enough'|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2015|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192623/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32874215|url-status=live}}</ref> In particular, she said she hoped to focus on closing the attainment gap between the richest and poorest children in Scottish schools, telling journalists: “Let me be clear – I want to be judged on this. If you are not, as First Minister, prepared to put your neck on the line on the education of our young people then what are you prepared to. It really matters.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-judge-me-education-record-1497298|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Judge me on education record|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192621/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-judge-me-education-record-1497298|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021 Audit Scotland concluded that, "Progress on closing the poverty-related attainment gap between the most and least deprived school pupils has been limited"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/attainment-gap-remains-wide-and-better-education-data-needed|title=Attainment gap remains wide and better education data needed | Audit Scotland|website=www.audit-scotland.gov.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420192631/https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/attainment-gap-remains-wide-and-better-education-data-needed|url-status=live}}</ref> and fell short of the Government's aims.<ref name=BBC_school>{{cite news |date=23 March 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=School attainment gap 'remains wide', watchdog warns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56489714#:~:text=Analysis%20by%20Audit%20Scotland%20showed,%2D%20a%20gap%20of%2036.2%25. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323063918/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56489714 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> In some local authorities the attainment gap between the richest and poorest students had widened.<ref name=BBC_school />
====Transgender rights====
{{see also|Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill}}
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon leading the Pride parade at Glasgow Pride 2018.jpg|thumb|Sturgeon leading [[Pride parade]] at [[Glasgow]] Pride 2018]]
Ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Sturgeon pledged to review and reform the way that trans people change their legal gender.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-35945543|title=Nicola Sturgeon makes gender recognition pledge|work=BBC News|date=1 April 2016|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-35945543|url-status=live}}</ref> However, proposed changes to Scotland's Gender Recognition Act that would have allowed people to change their identity through self-identification, rather than a medical process, were paused in June 2019.<ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48702946|title=Scottish transgender reforms put on hold|work=BBC News|date=20 June 2019|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205230725/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48702946|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of the changes within the SNP had accused Sturgeon of being "out of step" on the issue, and expressed concerns that the reforms would be open to abuse and allow predatory men into women's spaces.<ref name="bbc.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland|title=Several women 'close to quitting SNP over gender recognition plans'|date=14 October 2019|website=the Guardian|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093740/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland|url-status=live}}</ref> The Scottish Government said it had paused the legislation in order to find "maximum consensus" on the issue<ref name="bbc.com"/> and commentators described the issue as having divided the SNP like no other, with many dubbing the debate a "civil war".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html|title=Joanna Cherry accuses SNP colleagues of 'performative histrionics' over transgender issue|date=10 February 2021|website=The Independent|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t|title=Anger over trans woman on all-female SNP shortlist|first=Mike|last=Wade|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/|title=SNP civil war deepens as leading Sturgeon critic Joanna Cherry purged from Westminster team|first=Daniel|last=Sanderson|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=1 February 2021|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210101023/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2020 the reforms were again delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/transgender-reforms-shelved-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic|title=Transgender reforms shelved due to coronavirus pandemic|date=1 April 2020|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426155656/https://news.stv.tv/politics/transgender-reforms-shelved-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2021 a former trans officer in the SNP's LGBT wing, Teddy Hope, quit the party, claiming it was one of the “core hubs of transphobia in Scotland".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850|title=Why has the SNP been accused of 'transphobic views' – and who is Teddy Hope?|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=25 April 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850|url-status=live}}</ref> Large numbers of LGBT activists followed suit and Sturgeon released a video message in which she said that transphobia is "not acceptable" and said she hoped they would re-join the party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227|title=Nicola Sturgeon says transphobia in SNP 'not acceptable'|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503160507/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video|title=Nicola Sturgeon: transphobia in SNP is 'not acceptable' – video|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 January 2021|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193916/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the 2021 SNP manifesto, Sturgeon committed the party once again to reform the Gender Recognition Act<ref>{{Cite news|last=Merson|first=Adele|date=30 June 2021|title=Trans rights: How gender recognition reform became one of Scotland's most heated debates|work=[[The Press and Journal (Scotland)]]|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/3272284/trans-rights-debate-scotland/|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref>
and in August that year included the commitment in her agreement with the [[Scottish Greens]] on power sharing.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Simon|date=23 August 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon facing backlash over proposed gender legislation|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/08/23/nicola-sturgeon-facing-backlash-proposed-gender-legislation/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/08/23/nicola-sturgeon-facing-backlash-proposed-gender-legislation/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=24 August 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In September 2021, Sturgeon was accused of shutting down debate about gender reforms, after she heckled [[Murdo Fraser]] in parliament when he mentioned the Women's Rights Demo organised by feminist campaign group [[For Women Scotland]], and when she described concerns about gender recognition reform as "not valid".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=9 September 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon branded 'disgrace' after heckling MSP over gender reforms|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19569271.nicola-sturgeon-branded-disgrace-heckling-msp-gender-reforms/?ref=twtrec|access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=10 September 2021|title=Nicola Sturgeon dismisses concerns over gender reforms as 'not valid'|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19571909.nicola-sturgeon-dismisses-concerns-gender-reforms-not-valid/|access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>
====2021 Scottish Parliament election====
Sturgeon led the SNP into the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]] on a manifesto promise to hold a second independence referendum after the COVID-19 pandemic was over.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Soussi|first=Alasdair|title=SNP to seek Scottish independence vote after election victory|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/8/snp-to-seek-scottish-independence-vote-after-election-victory|access-date=2021-05-09|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509001038/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/8/snp-to-seek-scottish-independence-vote-after-election-victory|url-status=live}}</ref> In the election, the SNP won 64 of the 129 seats contested.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-09|title=Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509024429/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|url-status=live}}</ref> The SNP won a fourth consecutive election, albeit short of an overall majority, with a record number of votes on both the constituency and regional vote{{failed verification|date=May 2021}} as well as increasing their share of the constituency vote and making a net gain of one seat.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-08|title=Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|access-date=2021-05-09|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509024429/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57038039|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-08|title=SNP wins election, but just one seat short of overall majority|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-wins-election-but-just-short-of-overall-majority|access-date=2021-05-09|website=STV News|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523140840/https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-wins-election-but-just-short-of-overall-majority|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Third term: 2021–present===
Sturgeon was nominated for the post of [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] by a vote of the [[Scottish Parliament]] on 18 May, defeating [[Scottish Conservatives|Scottish Conservative]] leader [[Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)|Douglas Ross]] and [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Scottish Liberal Democrat]] leader, Willie Rennie by 64 votes to 31 and 4 respectively. This win resulted in Sturgeon becoming the first First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament to form a [[Third Sturgeon government|third government]]. Shortly after being elected, Sturgeon appointed John Swinney to the newly created position of [[Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-18|title=John Swinney to be minister for Covid recovery|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57161751|access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518182227/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57161751|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, US President Joe Biden and President of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera.jpg|thumb|right|269x269px|Sturgeon meets with U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] and [[President of Malawi]] [[Lazarus Chakwera]], November 2021]]
====Power-sharing agreement====
In August 2021, Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party co-leaders [[Patrick Harvie]] and [[Lorna Slater]] announced a [[Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement|power-sharing agreement between their parties]]. There was no agreement on oil and gas exploration, but the government now argued that it had a stronger case for a national independence referendum.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-20|title=SNP and Scottish Greens confirm power-sharing deal in historic moment for Greens|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/20/snp-and-scottish-greens-expected-to-confirm-power-sharing-deal|access-date=2021-08-21|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> As part of the agreement, the Green Party co-leaders would be nominated to serve as ministers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-27|title=Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to serve as ministers in Nicola Sturgeon's Government|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/green-co-leaders-patrick-harvie-and-lorna-slater-to-serve-as-ministers-in-nicola-sturgeons-government-3360585|access-date=2021-08-27|website=the Scotsman|language=en}}</ref>
====Climate crisis====
[[File:First Minister - COP26 OXFAM speech (51672407476).jpg|thumb|Sturgeon at the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP26 climate summit]] in Glasgow on 11 November 2021|left|191x191px]]
In August 2021 Sturgeon wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, asking him whether the development of the Cambo oil field west of Shetland should be "reassessed in light of the severity of the climate emergency".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58186181|title=Sturgeon urges UK government to reassess Cambo oil field plan|work=BBC News|date=13 August 2021}}</ref> The letter represented a significant shift in policy for the SNP, which had [[It's Scotland's oil|historically been a strong supporter of the oil and gas industry]]; the party's blueprint for an independent Scotland in 2013 was predicated on tax revenue earned from domestic oil production, while Sturgeon had predicted in the run up to the referendum that, "We’re on the verge of another North Sea bonanza".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shetland-oilfield-is-a-drop-in-the-ocean-s9d6xf3sl|title = Shetland oilfield is a drop in the ocean|last1 = Massie|first1 = Alex}}</ref>
The announcement was welcomed by the Scottish Green party but [[Greenpeace]] criticised Sturgeon for not coming out more strongly against the oil field. “The First Minister must stop hiding behind Boris Johnson," a spokesperson for the organisation said. "If she wants to show leadership on climate she must clearly say: stop Cambo.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/12/nicola-sturgeon-hiding-behind-pm-cambo-oilfield-north-sea-say-climate-groups|title = Nicola Sturgeon 'hiding behind PM' on Cambo oilfield, say climate groups|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 12 August 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, although no assessment had taken place, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament she believed the oilfield "should not get the green light".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-59312510|title=Nicola Sturgeon: Cambo oil field should not get green light|work=BBC News|date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
===International relations===
While [[Foreign policy of the United Kingdom|foreign policy]] remains a [[reserved matter]],<ref name="parliament.scot">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722092046/http://www.parliament.scot/visitandlearn/Education/18642.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2017 }}</ref> Sturgeon has undertaken a number of visits to Europe, North America and Asia to promote Scotland as a place of investment and Scottish businesses to trade and do business with.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Europe |title=Europe - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623101827/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Europe |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Americas/north-america |title=International relations - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064834/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Americas/north-america |archive-date=18 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Asia |title=International relations - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623035251/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Asia |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref> Sturgeon has committed to strengthening links between Scotland and the [[Africa]]n continent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Africa |title=International development - gov.scot |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623082436/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/International/Africa |archive-date=23 June 2017 }}</ref>
In response to the Brexit vote, to discuss Scotland's interests, Sturgeon travelled to [[Brussels]] to meet with both [[Jean-Claude Juncker]], the [[President of the European Commission]] as well as [[Martin Schulz]], the [[President of the European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://firstminister.gov.scot/3181-2/ |title=Protecting Scotland's role in the EU |access-date=9 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010004559/https://firstminister.gov.scot/3181-2/ |archive-date=10 October 2017 |date=30 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/agenturmeldungen/dpa/schulz-empfaengt-schottin-sturgeon-zu-gespraech-ueber-brexit-folgen-14314820.htmlhtml |date=26 June 2006 |title=Schulz empfängt Schottin Sturgeon zu Gespräch über Brexit-Folgen |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |language=de|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref>
====United States====
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon meets Icelandic Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon meets with [[Katrín Jakobsdóttir]], [[Prime Minister of Iceland]], 2019]]
Sturgeon was highly critical of [[Donald Trump]] and his policies during the [[2016 United States presidential election]] and had publicly backed his [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] rival [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-backs-hillary-president-9204999 |title=Nicola Sturgeon breaks convention to back Hillary Clinton in Presidential race |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214420/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-backs-hillary-president-9204999 |archive-date=1 October 2017 |date=6 November 2016 }}</ref> Sturgeon highlighted her disapproval of his language and views relating to sexism and misogyny, and stated upon Trump's victory that she hopes "Trump turns out to be a president different to the one he was during his campaign and reaches out to those who felt vilified by his campaign".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37940485 |title=Sturgeon 'will not be silent' over Trump |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123083406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37940485 |archive-date=23 January 2017 |work=BBC News |date=10 November 2016 }}</ref>
Sturgeon had previously stripped Trump of his ambassadorial role for Scottish businesses with the Scottish Government in the aftermath of Trump's views of an outright ban of [[Muslims]] from entering the United States. Sturgeon claimed following comments made by Trump in relation to Muslims entering the United States that he was "not fit" for the ambassadorial role with the Scottish Government.<ref name="stv.tv">{{cite web |url=https://stv.tv/news/politics/1378606-nicola-sturgeon-congratulates-donald-trump-on-inauguration/ |title=Nicola Sturgeon congratulates Donald Trump on inauguration |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213437/https://stv.tv/news/politics/1378606-nicola-sturgeon-congratulates-donald-trump-on-inauguration/ |archive-date=1 October 2017 |date=20 January 2017 }}</ref>
====Spain====
In the run up to the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum]], Nicola Sturgeon offered her own personal backing and that of the [[Scottish Government]] to [[Catalonia]] in the holding of a referendum.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41350999 |title=Sturgeon backs Catalan referendum calls |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050053/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41350999 |archive-date=5 October 2017 |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2017 }}</ref> The [[Government of Spain]] criticised Sturgeon, claiming she had "totally misunderstood" the situation in Spain and Catalonia.<ref name="Archived copy"/> Sturgeon highlighted that Spain should follow "the shining example" that was created as part of the [[Edinburgh Agreement (2012)|Edinburgh Agreement]] between the Scottish and British Governments that allowed Scotland to hold a legally binding referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15554327.Iain_Macwhirter__Madrid_should_have_learned_the_lesson_of_the_Scottish_independence_referendum/ |title=Iain Macwhirter: Madrid should have learned the lesson of the Scottish independence referendum |access-date=1 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022033/http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15554327.Iain_Macwhirter__Madrid_should_have_learned_the_lesson_of_the_Scottish_independence_referendum/ |archive-date=2 October 2017 }}</ref>
==Political views==
[[File:-StopTrident - Nicola Sturgeon (25237978452).jpg|left|thumb|Sturgeon at the #StopTrident rally at Trafalgar Square, February 2016.]]
Sturgeon has campaigned against replacing the [[Trident nuclear programme|Trident nuclear weapons system]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-signs-rethink-trident-pledge-1-3865803 |title=Nicola Sturgeon signs 'Rethink Trident' pledge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207233427/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-signs-rethink-trident-pledge-1-3865803 |archive-date=7 December 2015 }}</ref> She has at times been a critic of [[austerity]], saying that the UK government's "austerity economics" is "morally unjustifiable and economically unsustainable".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31377373 |title=Nicola Sturgeon attacks 'Westminster austerity economics' |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003143112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31377373 |archive-date=3 October 2015 }}</ref> However, in 2018 she endorsed her party's Growth Commission report that pledged to reduce an independent Scotland's budget deficit as a percentage of GDP<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-44237956|title=What's in the SNP's growth commission report?|work=BBC News|date=25 May 2018|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154311/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-44237956|url-status=live}}</ref> – something the [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]] concluded meant "continued austerity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,ifs-independent-scotland-would-face-continued-austerity-under-growth-commission-proposals_8823.htm|title=IFS: Independent Scotland 'would face continued austerity' under Growth Commission proposals|date=4 October 2019|website=Holyrood Website|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420154314/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,ifs-independent-scotland-would-face-continued-austerity-under-growth-commission-proposals_8823.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sorry-the-article-you-were-trying-to-read-was-free-only-for-a-limited-time-b70qpw2kj|title=Sorry...|first=The Times & The Sunday|last=Times|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512093206/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sorry-the-article-you-were-trying-to-read-was-free-only-for-a-limited-time-b70qpw2kj|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sturgeon has also campaigned on [[women's rights]] and [[gender equality]], and is a self-described [[feminism|feminist]]; she has argued that Scotland's feminist movement is not simply symbolic, but "sends a powerful signal about equality".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/30/post-referendum-scotland-feminist-paradise |title=Is post-referendum Scotland a feminist paradise? |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221150909/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/30/post-referendum-scotland-feminist-paradise |archive-date=21 December 2016 }}</ref> She has hailed Scottish feminist economist [[Ailsa McKay]] as one of her inspirations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beaton|first=Connor|title= Economics professor passes after cancer battle|work=The Targe|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> She has at various points commented on the behaviour or attitudes of men towards women; publicly condemning Donald Trump,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-misogyny-its-worst-says-sturgeon-a7364481.html|title = Donald Trump is 'misogyny at its worst' says Sturgeon|website = [[Independent.co.uk]]|date = 16 October 2016}}</ref> [[Tony Abbott]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scottish-independence-sexist-envoy-tony-abbott-is-boost-for-second-referendum-says-nicola-sturgeon-z57cf7w56|title = Scottish independence: Sexist envoy Tony Abbott is boost for second referendum, says Nicola Sturgeon|last1 = McLaughlin|first1 = Mark}}</ref> and former Labour MSP [[Neil Findlay]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-slams-sexist-tweet-by-labour-msp-neil-findlay-bk6rx9hpx|title=Sturgeon slams 'sexist' tweet by Labour MSP Neil Findlay|last1=McLaughlin|first1=Mark}}</ref> She has also defended men from allegations of sexism too; in 2015, after Alex Salmond told Tory MP [[Anna Soubry]], "Behave yourself, woman", Sturgeon said: "The fundamental question, ‘does that language indicate that Alex Salmond is sexist?’ Absolutely not, there’s no man I know who is less sexist.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/09/nicola-sturgeon-defends-alex-salmond-sexist-comments_n_7548840.html|title=Sturgeon Insists Salmond is the 'Least Sexist Man' She Knows|date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/behave-yourself-alex-salmond-no-5858508|title = 'Behave yourself, Alex Salmond is no sexist' – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon|date = 10 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-rejects-sexist-jibe-about-salmond-8z359l5vh2m|title = Sturgeon rejects sexist jibe about Salmond|last1 = McIntosh|first1 = Lindsay}}</ref> Commenting on the need for men to challenge their friends’ misogynistic behaviour, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament in 2021: "I would say to all men in this chamber and all men across the country — challenge it [misogyny] if it’s on the part of other men you may know, challenge your own behaviour and then let’s collectively, as a society, turn the page and turn the corner so that women can live free of the fear of harassment, abuse, intimidation, violence and, in the worst cases, death."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-urges-men-to-challenge-sexist-behaviour-lwllv0snx|title=Challenge friends over sexist conduct, Nicola Sturgeon urges men}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/07/men-must-challenge-misogynistic-behaviour-says-nicola-sturgeon|title = Men must challenge misogynistic behaviour, says Nicola Sturgeon|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 7 October 2021}}</ref>
Sturgeon is a constitutional monarchist, telling journalists that it is "a model that has many merits".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780|title=Nicola Sturgeon has first audience with the Queen|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2014|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222242/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780|url-status=live}}</ref> On the day [[Queen Elizabeth II]] become Britain's longest reigning monarch, Sturgeon travelled with her to open the [[Borders Railway]] and told a crowd of well-wishers: "She [The Queen] has carried out Her duties with dedication, wisdom and an exemplary sense of public service. The reception She has received today, demonstrates that that admiration and affection is certainly felt here in Scotland."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-09-09/sturgeon-republican-or-royalist|title=Sturgeon: Republican or Royalist?|first=Peter|last=MacMahon|date=9 September 2015|website=ITV News|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222243/https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-09-09/sturgeon-republican-or-royalist|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Awards and acknowledgements==
Sturgeon won the [[Scottish Politician of the Year Award]] in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50517496|title=Nicola Sturgeon crowned 'Politician of the Year'|date=22 November 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203154354/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50517496|url-status=live}}</ref>
''[[Forbes]]'' magazine ranked Sturgeon as the 50th most powerful woman in the world in 2016 and 2nd in the United Kingdom.<ref name="2016 powerful women">{{cite web|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/nicola-sturgeon/?list=power-women|website=Forbes|access-date=6 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812005503/http://www.forbes.com/profile/nicola-sturgeon/?list=power-women|archive-date=12 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36463186|title=Nicola Sturgeon ranked second most powerful woman in UK|work=BBC News|date=6 June 2016|access-date=6 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606170733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36463186|archive-date=6 June 2016}}</ref> In 2015, [[BBC Radio 4|BBC Radio 4's]] ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' assessed Sturgeon to be the most powerful and influential woman in the United Kingdom.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33325915|title=Nicola Sturgeon tops Woman's Hour power list|access-date=1 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701105057/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33325915|archive-date=1 July 2015|work=BBC News|date=July 2015}}</ref>
==Personal life==
[[File:Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn.jpg|thumb|right|Sturgeon attended [[Greenwood Academy, Dreghorn]] from 1982–1988]]
Sturgeon lives in Glasgow with her husband, [[Peter Murrell]], who is the Chief Executive Officer of the SNP. The couple have been in a relationship since 2003. They announced their engagement on 29 January 2010,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://stv.tv/news/west-central/153973-nicola-sturgeon-announces-wedding-plans/ |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces wedding plans |publisher=STV |work=STV News |date=29 January 2010 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819145742/https://stv.tv/news/west-central/153973-nicola-sturgeon-announces-wedding-plans/ |archive-date=19 August 2017 }}</ref> and were married on 16 July 2010 at [[Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow|Òran Mór]] in Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-ties-the-knot-but-she-won-t-be-calling-herself-mrs-murrell-1-817668 |title=Nicola Sturgeon ties the knot — but she won't be calling herself Mrs Murrell |publisher=Johnston Press |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919114046/http://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-ties-the-knot-but-she-won-t-be-calling-herself-mrs-murrell-1-817668 |archive-date=19 September 2016 }}</ref> Reflecting on her marriage in 2012, Sturgeon told ''The Daily Record'': “Being in the same kind of line of work has its up sides and its down sides. The up side is that Peter understands what’s going on and why I am late home all the time. The down side is that you just end up talking about it all the time and you never leave it outside."<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-spills-the-beans-on-her-home-1458433| title = Nicola Sturgeon spills the beans on her home life as she reveals she's a disaster in the kitchen - Daily Record| date = 27 November 2012}} </ref>
Sturgeon is known for her love of fiction and says reading, "gives me a lot of joy and helps with the stresses and strains of work".<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/nicola-sturgeon-discusses-favourite-books-author-maggie-ofarrell-204801| title = Nicola Sturgeon discusses favourite books with author Maggie O'Farrell {{!}} The Scotsman}} </ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1208400064210706432|user=NicolaSturgeon|title=📚 I love reading - it gives me a lot of joy and helps with the stresses and strains of work. I try (tho don’t alway…|date=21 December 2019}}</ref>
Her mother Joan was the SNP Provost of [[North Ayrshire]] council, where she was councillor for the Irvine East ward from 2007 until 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635 |title=The Nicola Sturgeon story |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031075316/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25333635 |archive-date=31 October 2016 }}</ref> In 2016, Sturgeon disclosed that she had miscarried five years previously.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37270135 |title=Nicola Sturgeon miscarriage: First minister reveals baby loss |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=4 September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907152846/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37270135 |archive-date=7 September 2016 }}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of First Ministers of Scotland]]
*[[List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{SP-MSP}}
* [http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm SNP profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715123308/http://www.snp.org/nicola_sturgeon_fm |date=15 July 2016 }}
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{{Nicola Sturgeon}}
{{UK heads of governments}}
{{Current heads of government in the UK and dependencies}}
{{Leaders of British political parties}}
{{Scottish Cabinet}}
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[[Category:Nicola Sturgeon| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish women politicians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]]
[[Category:BBC 100 Women]]
[[Category:Deputy First Ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Female heads of government in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Women heads of government of non-sovereign entities]]
[[Category:First Ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Health ministers of Scotland]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Scottish National Party]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow constituencies]]
[[Category:People from Irvine, North Ayrshire]]
[[Category:Scottish feminists]]
[[Category:Scottish National Party MSPs]]
[[Category:Scottish nationalists]]
[[Category:Scottish people of English descent]]
[[Category:Scottish solicitors]]
[[Category:Scottish women lawyers]]
[[Category:Women members of the Scottish Government]]' |
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Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | 1646495929 |
