Latest news with #Sturgeon
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Nicola Sturgeon agrees to TV special as ex-SNP leader to be grilled on 'striking revelations' in new book
The former first minister will be quizzed by ITV News ahead of the publication of 'Frankly' next month. Nicola Sturgeon has agreed to a high profile TV interview ahead of the publication next month of her eagerly anticipated political memoir. The former first minister will be grilled by ITV News stalwart Julie Etchingham for a special programme that will be broadcast at 7pm on August 11. Sturgeon's book, Frankly, hits the shops on August 14. The interview will focus on the memoir's most striking revelations, delving into the ex-SNP leader's successes and controversies, personal insights and political flashpoints. It is being produced by the ITV News team responsible for previous headline-grabbing political interviews with former Prime Ministers David Cameron in 2019 and Boris Johnson last year. Etchingham said: "Nicola Sturgeon is quite simply one of the stand-out politicians of a generation. From her rise as a working class girl to the pinnacle of Scottish politics as first female First Minister, she has charted dizzying political heights to being hailed the most dangerous woman in Britain. In what I hope will be a revealing encounter, I can't wait to see how Nicola Sturgeon lifts the lid on her politics, life and legacy - and to find out where she heads next.' Sturgeon has declared nearly £200,000 in outside earnings since standing down from the top job in Scottish politics. Her book, Frankly, is expected to lift the lid on her nine years as Scotland's leader and the breakdown of her friendship with the late Alex Salmond. According to her Holyrood register of interest, she received £75,000 in 2023 from publishers Pan Macmillan for the first of four instalments of a book advance. Other income, including a recent £76,500 second book payment made via her literary agent and fees for book reviews, was paid to her personal company. Nicola Sturgeon Ltd also received £25,000 from broadcaster ITN after the former SNP leader appeared on a general election night results show. To coincide with publication of her book, fans of Sturgeon are being charged £75 to attend a 'meet and greet' with her later this year ahead of an interview in Edinburgh. The fee is on top of ticket prices for the event at the 2200 capacity Usher Hall which stretch to £73.95 including the booking fee. In an Instagram post, she plugged an 'evening with Nicola Sturgeon ' in the Capital in which she would reflect on her career in politics. Sturgeon, who is standing down from Holyrood next year, has been accused of being a part-time MSP since resigning as FM, with critics hitting out at her attendance record.
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Nicola Sturgeon holds back tears as she comes face to face with her book, Frankly, for first time
Nicola Sturgeon unveils her book, Frankly | Instagram Nicola Sturgeon has come face to face with her upcoming book for the first time. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Nicola Sturgeon has held back the tears as the former first minister got her first glimpse of her autobiography due to be released in just over two weeks' time. Ms Sturgeon has admitted she was close to crying after opening up a box containing physical copies of her memoirs, Frankly, ahead of the book being released next month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nicola Sturgeon unveils her book, Frankly | Instagram The Glasgow Southside MSP revealed her emotion on a video posted on her Instagram account. In the video, the former SNP first minister admits she is 'almost too scared to look' before excitedly taking a hardback copy out of a box from her publishers, Pan macmillan, and holding it. She said: 'Apologies in advance if I start to cry. I am almost scared to look.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After glancing at her book, Ms Sturgeon, wearing a beaming smile, simply says 'amazing'. Before opening the package, she said: 'Ever since I was a wee girl I have dreamed about writing a book. 'Over the years I have watched so many authors do what I am about to do now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I have always wondered how it would feel to hold in your own hands a copy of a book you have written yourself. And I can hardly believe that is what I am about to do.' Before ending the video, Ms Sturgeon warns: 'I might actually start to cry so I better go now.' Ms Sturgeon previously revealed her book title and cover on her Instagram, which has become her favoured platform for posting updates.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
7 crazy things Donald Trump has said about Scotland
From branding Nicola Sturgeon a 'woke extremist' to a bizarre take on Scottish independence, the US president has had a number of memorable moments speaking about the country of his mother's birth. Here are 7 of his most unhinged remarks about Scotland… 'Woke extremist' Nicola Sturgeon BACK in February 2023, Sturgeon sent shockwaves across the country as she announced her resignation as first minister after eight years in post. READ MORE: SNP group calls on John Swinney to confront Donald Trump about Gaza Her announcement also caught the eye of Trump who bid her 'good riddance' before labelling her 'a woke extremist'. He also accused Sturgeon of fighting him over his golf courses in Scotland. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) In a statement, Trump said: 'Good riddance to failed woke extremist Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland! 'This crazed leftist symbolizes everything wrong with identity politics. Sturgeon thought it was OK to put a biological man in a women's prison, and if that wasn't bad enough, Sturgeon fought for a 'Gender Recognition Reform Bill' that would have allowed 16-year-old children to change their gender without medical advice.' He went on: 'I built the greatest golf properties in the world in Scotland, but she fought me all the way, making my job much more difficult. 'The wonderful people of Scotland are much better off without Sturgeon in office.' Patrick Harvie accused of 'blasphemy' IN April 2012, Trump visited the Scottish Parliament and caused quite the circus. He appeared to give evidence as a business owner in Scotland and argued against further wind turbines. After being invited to give evidence by committee convener Murdo Fraser, Trump claimed the Scottish public hated wind farms. This led to SNP MSP Chic Brodie asking him what evidence he had to support this. The billionaire then pointed at himself and said 'I am the evidence'. (Image: PA) Following this absurd moment, Harvie tweeted an image from the famous Monty Python's Life of Brian crucifixion scene and superimposed a speech bubble in front of each character that read "I am the evidence'. Trump took issue with this and George Sorial, his combative right-hand man, complained to the Holyrood standards commissioner that the Scottish Green politician had been "offensive" and "blasphemous". The Scottish blasphemy law was last enforced in 1843 but, under parliament rules, an investigation had to be launched. The case was eventually dismissed, making Harvie the only Scottish parliamentarian ever to be formally cleared of blasphemy. Trump on Scottish independence Speaking with comedian Andrew Schulz on his Flagrant podcast last year, the then-US presidential candidate said he hoped the UK 'always stays together'. After Schulz said some of his family 'hate the English', Trump went off on bizarre spiel about Scottish independence and the country's history. We'll let it speak for itself. 'You know, they tried to break up Scotland from the rest of the empire, so to speak,' he said. 'And it made it by about like a half a point. They kept it together. So I hope it stays together. I hope it always stays together.' READ MORE: Donald Trump told he appears in the Epstein Files, reports say Trump then appeared to reference the formation of the UK. 'But England, as they say, because it used to be England, but England never could. They just, and they were bigger and they had more people. They could never finish it off by capturing Scotland. So it's really sort of,' Trump said. Schulz then interrupted: 'They ended up having to marry together." Trump agreed: 'They married. They became sort of subsidiaries. Right?' 'I have done so much for Scotland' IN 2015, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen stripped Trump of his honorary degree, while Sturgeon joined calls for him to be considered for exclusion from the UK. Trump's response was typically arrogant. (Image: PA) "I have done so much for Scotland, including building Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, which has received the highest accolades, and is what many believe to be one of the greatest golf courses anywhere in the world,' he said. 'If they – Nicola Sturgeon and RGU – were going to do this, they should have informed me prior to my major investment in this £200m development. "The UK politicians should be thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness." 'Get rid of windmills' EARLIER this year, Trump felt he needed to speak out about the UK's move away from oil and gas. Trump wrote: 'The U.K. is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills!' READ MORE: Road restrictions in place around Prestwick Airport The president-elect was responding to a November announcement by US oil firm Apache, which said it will exit the North Sea. Trump on Brexit THE US president had a bit of an odd take on Brexit when he visited Scotland just after the country had voted to stay in the EU. 'Just arrived in Scotland. Place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games,' he said. 'This house is ugly' WE'RE taking you back a few years for this one. After Trump confirmed plans to build a golf course on the Menie Estate in March 2006, he got into a bitter planning dispute. He quickly became involved in a fight with two of the site's neighbours as Michael Forbes and David and Moira Milne declined to sell their land. Ever the gentleman, Trump was filmed on one visit looking at the Milnes' home, calling it 'ugly'. He said: 'I want to get rid of that house.' He was told by an employee that this could cause a "bit of stir" and replied: "Who cares? We are going to build the greatest golf course in the world, this house is ugly."
STV News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- STV News
JK Rowling offers to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free
JK Rowling has offered to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free in British newspapers. The Harry Potter author has repeatedly criticised the former first minister of Scotland for the SNP government's controversial gender recognition reforms. Most recently, Rowling hit out at 'Sturgeon's legacy' amid an ongoing employment tribunal against a NHS health board involving a female nurse whose complaint about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor led to her being suspended. 'This is Nicola Sturgeon's legacy: a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room,' Rowling posted on X on Saturday. Rowling said she would review Sturgeon's book, due to be released on August 14, in any paper for free so long as they 'don't edit out the swear words'. She said she 'ready to take one for the team' by reading the former first minister's memoir titled Frankly. Sturgeon was responding to coverage of promotional reviews of the book, in which one quote compares it to former US President Barack Obama's memoir. Sturgeon has previously said she has 'poured her heart into' her book, which will cover 'extraordinary events', 'colourful characters,' and 'incredible experiences'. The memoir will be published a few months after the ex-SNP leader's name was cleared in a police investigation into the party's finances. In March, Sturgeon announced she would not be seeking re-election next year. STV News has contacted Sturgeon for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
JK Rowling offers to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free in newspapers
Nicola Sturgeon's memoir is due to be published next month | PA The author has been a vocal critic of the former first minister, and joked she would 'take one for the team' Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... JK Rowling has offered to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for free in British newspapers as long as they do not "edit out the swear words". The Harry Potter author, who has repeatedly criticised the former first minister over her views on trans rights and the principle of self-identification, joked she was 'ready to take one for the team'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She recently hit out at Ms Sturgeon after the Scottish Government said it still had confidence in NHS Fife despite the ongoing fallout over an employment tribunal involving nurse Sandie Peggie. Nicola Sturgeon's memoir is due to be published next month | PA Ms Peggie was suspended from her work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in January last year after she objected to Dr Beth Upton, a trans woman, using the female changing room in the A&E department. Writing on social media, Ms Rowling said: 'This is Nicola Sturgeon's legacy: a government that publicly backs the hapless, unprofessional, ideologically captured health board that's persecuting a nurse for asserting her legal right to a single-sex changing room.' The author was a fierce opponent of Ms Sturgeon's planned gender reforms, which aimed to make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Opponents raised concerns this would undermine women's sex-based rights, such as access to women-only spaces, and the legislation was later blocked by the UK Government. In 2022, Ms Rowling posted a photo of herself to social media wearing a t-shirt calling the former first minister a 'destroyer of women's rights'. Ms Sturgeon's memoir, Frankly, is due to be published next month. In a review quoted on Amazon, the author Andrew O'Hagan called it a 'triumph', adding: 'Frankly is the most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Responding to an article in the Daily Mail that featured political opponents ridiculing the comparison with Mr Obama, Ms Rowling wrote on X: 'Calling all British newspapers: I am available to review Nicola Sturgeon's memoir. No fee required as long as you don't edit out the swear words.'
