Nicola Sturgeon – Biography, Memoir and Latest News

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female and longest-serving First Minister, has returned to the public eye with the publication of her memoir Frankly. The book, released in August 2025, offers an unusually personal account of her working-class upbringing in Ayrshire, her rise through the Scottish National Party, and the pressures that led to her resignation in February 2023. It also addresses her marriage to Peter Murrell, her miscarriage, and the police investigation that reshaped her private life.

Sturgeon led Scotland through the independence referendum, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as First Minister from November 2014 until March 2023. Her time in office made her one of the most recognisable figures in British politics. Now, with the release of Frankly and the ongoing legal proceedings involving her husband, she remains a subject of widespread interest.

This article provides a fact-based overview of Sturgeon’s biography, her memoir, her family circumstances, her net worth, and the latest developments surrounding her and her husband.

Who is Nicola Sturgeon?

Key Insights

• Nicola Sturgeon was the first woman to serve as First Minister of Scotland and the longest-serving person in that role.
• Her resignation in February 2023, citing occupational burnout, shocked the political landscape.
• Her husband, Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, was arrested and later charged as part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into SNP finances.
• Her memoir Frankly provides a deeply personal account of her upbringing, political career, and the pressures of leadership.
• Sturgeon and Murrell announced plans to divorce in January 2025.
• In the memoir, Sturgeon confirms her sexuality is not binary.

Snapshot Facts

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What is Nicola Sturgeon’s Book About?

When did Nicola Sturgeon release her memoir?

Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly: The Revelatory Memoir from Scotland’s First Female and Longest-Serving First Minister, was officially published on 14 August 2025 by Pan Macmillan. Some Waterstones branches made it available early on 11 August 2025. The book runs to 480 pages and carries the ISBN 9781035040216. The publisher reportedly paid £300,000 for the rights after a nine-way auction, as noted by Jacobin.

What does ‘Frankly’ cover?

The memoir traces Sturgeon’s journey from a working-class childhood in Ayrshire to the highest office in Scotland. It describes her painfully shy private persona and her evolution into a polished public performer. Politically, the book covers her role as “Yes Minister” during the 2014 independence referendum, the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, the SNP’s election to government, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It also details her interactions with Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and her former mentor turned adversary, Alex Salmond.

On a personal level, the book addresses Sturgeon’s miscarriage at age 40, the death of her baby daughter, and the guilt she felt over wishing she was not pregnant. She describes the emotional toll as bringing her “perilously close” to a breakdown. The memoir also confirms that her sexuality is not binary and recounts the impact of the Operation Branchform investigation on her marriage.

Who is Nicola Sturgeon’s Husband?

What happened to Peter Murrell?

Peter Murrell is Sturgeon’s husband and the former chief executive of the SNP. In January 2025, the couple announced plans to divorce. Murrell is currently awaiting trial for embezzlement as part of the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP finances. Sturgeon has stated that the police investigation accelerated the end of their marriage. She recounts the police raid on their Glasgow home on 5 April 2023 as a pivotal and traumatic event, as reported by BBC News.

Does Nicola Sturgeon have children?

Sturgeon and Murrell had one child, a daughter, who was born in 2010 but died as a baby after Sturgeon’s miscarriage that same year. The memoir describes this as a moment of profound grief and guilt. The book does not indicate that they have other living children. This is detailed in the Jacobin review and BBC News coverage of the memoir.

What is the Latest News About Nicola Sturgeon?

Why did Nicola Sturgeon resign as First Minister?

Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023, citing occupational burnout. In her memoir, she describes the decision to step down as necessary for her wellbeing and for the future of the independence movement. Her resignation came after more than eight years in the role, during which she was a constant presence through Brexit, the pandemic, and five UK prime ministers.

What is her current status?

As of August 2025, Sturgeon is a former First Minister and the author of Frankly. She remains a member of the Scottish Parliament but has announced she will not seek re-election at the next Holyrood election in 2026. She was discharged from the Operation Branchform investigation in March 2024 and cleared of any wrongdoing. Her political future beyond 2026 has not been confirmed.

What is Nicola Sturgeon’s Net Worth?

A specific figure for Nicola Sturgeon’s personal net worth is not available in public records. The only concrete financial detail that has been reported is the £300,000 advance Pan Macmillan paid for her memoir, which Jacobin described as “highly lucrative” for a political memoir. No public breakdown of her salary, assets, or overall net worth has been published. Similarly, no details about Peter Murrell’s personal net worth are available in the provided sources. His role as SNP chief executive and his upcoming embezzlement trial are documented, but his personal finances are not.

Key Events in Nicola Sturgeon’s Career

1. 1970: Born in Ayrshire, Scotland.
2. 1990s: Joins the SNP and works as a solicitor.
3. 2007: Becomes Deputy First Minister under Alex Salmond.
4. 2014: Becomes First Minister after Salmond resigns following the independence referendum loss.
5. 2015: Leads the SNP to a landslide UK general election result.
6. 2020–2021: Manages Scotland’s COVID-19 response.
7. 2023 (Feb): Resigns as First Minister; Peter Murrell is arrested.
8. 2024 (Mar): Sturgeon is discharged from the Operation Branchform investigation and cleared of wrongdoing.
9. 2025 (Jan): Sturgeon and Murrell announce plans to divorce.
10. 2025 (Aug): Memoir Frankly is published.

What Facts Are Certain and What Remains Unclear?

What Is Nicola Sturgeon’s Political Legacy?

Sturgeon’s tenure as First Minister was defined by her consistent leadership through a period of enormous political turbulence in the UK. She was a central figure in the Scottish independence movement and remained a “rare constant” through Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and five UK prime ministers, as noted on the Pan Macmillan publisher page for her memoir. Her government pursued gender equality initiatives and positioned Scotland distinctly from Westminster policy on several fronts.

The Operation Branchform investigation has, however, cast a shadow over the final phase of her leadership and her husband’s role in the SNP. The reception of her memoir has been mixed: the Sunday Times described it as “the most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father,” while Jacobin’s review was critical, titling its piece “Nicola Sturgeon’s Memoir Mainly Reveals Her Own Emptiness.” J.K. Rowling also reviewed the book, calling it part of the “twilight of Nicola Sturgeon.”

Her legacy is also intertwined with the ongoing debate about Scottish independence. While she stepped down from frontline politics, she remains a committed supporter of independence, and her memoir reiterates her dedication to Scotland’s future.

What Has Been Said About Nicola Sturgeon?

“The most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father.”

— Sunday Times, on Frankly (via Unity Books)

“Nicola Sturgeon’s Memoir Mainly Reveals Her Own Emptiness.”

— Jacobin review of Frankly

“The twilight of Nicola Sturgeon.”

— J.K. Rowling, reviewing Frankly (via J.K. Rowling’s website)

What’s Next for Nicola Sturgeon?

Sturgeon will serve as an MSP until the next Scottish Parliament election, after which she has stated she will not seek re-election. Her writing career may continue, with potential for further volumes. Her influence on the SNP and Scottish politics remains, though she has stepped back from active leadership. For readers interested in other prominent political figures, see the profile of Arnold Schwarzenegger – Age, Net Worth, Movies, and Governor Career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nicola Sturgeon