Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon is a Scottish politician and author who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2014 to 2023. Born in Ayrshire in 1970, she studied law at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an LLB (Hons) in 1992 followed by a Diploma in Legal Practice. She has been a prominent figure in Scottish and UK politics since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, holding roles including Deputy First Minister and leading the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.

As an author, Sturgeon wrote the memoir Frankly, a deeply personal account of her journey from a working‑class upbringing in Ayrshire to becoming Scotland’s first female and longest‑serving First Minister, and her role at the heart of key events such as the independence referendum, Brexit and the Covid‑19 pandemic. She also wrote the foreword to Moving: A Memoir of Education and Social Mobility by Andy Hargreaves, which reflects her longstanding interest in education and social mobility.