The Nicola Sturgeon Interview

In this episode of Newscast, host Adam Fleming interviews Nicola Sturgeon about her autobiography titled 'Frankly'. Sturgeon offers an honest look at her life, from her initial entry into politics to her tenure as First Minister of Scotland. Throughout the discussion, she highlights various significant events, including Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, and the political controversies she faced. A key focus is the disintegration of her relationship with former mentor Alex Salmond, surrounding allegations of sexual harassment and the broader political implications.

Sturgeon reflects on her candid writing style, emphasizing the challenges of recounting her experiences and mistakes, particularly regarding how she navigated transgender rights and independence referendums post-Brexit. She admits to misjudging the Scottish public's sentiment and acknowledges areas of her governance where she could have acted differently.

The conversation also touches on more personal matters such as Sturgeon's experience with menopause while in office and her emotional responses to grief following her miscarriage. She discusses navigating public and private life, revealing vulnerabilities, including how uncertainty over her own sexuality has persisted amid public scrutiny.

As the conversation wraps up, Sturgeon expresses a desire to shape her future, possibly stepping back from politics entirely or exploring non-traditional roles that still allow her to impact the world, while also reflecting on the difficulties faced by current political leaders. The episode concludes with a light-hearted mention of her tattoo that symbolizes resilience.