Nicola Sturgeon

Sturgeon in 2016

Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician and the current First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party. She has been the MSP for Glasgow Southside since 2007 and before that for Glasgow since 1999.

Quotes

2014

• If I am elected, there may be an opportunity to change the tone for the better.
  • Said while campaigning for the SNP leadership in 2014. Khaleeli, Homa (30 September 2014) Is post-referendum Scotland a feminist paradise? on the Guardian website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

2015

• I have opposed Trident and nuclear weapons for all of my political life - I even joined CND before becoming a member of the SNP.
  • Said after she signed a Rethink Trident pledge in 2015. Nicola Sturgeon signs ‘Rethink Trident’ pledge (22 August 2015) on the Scotsman website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

2016

• I believe both Scotland and the UK should stay in the EU. Scotland benefits from being part of the EU, and the EU benefits from having Scotland a part of it. No SNP parliamentarian has expressed a desire to campaign for the out campaign - though they are not prevented from doing so. I am determined to make the positive case for continued membership in a reformed EU.
  • Scottish Lib Dem conference: Leader Tim Farron in staunch defence of EU BBC News (27 February 2016)

• While I do not agree with the decision on the EU reached by people in England and Wales, I do respect it. I hope the new PM will show the same respect for the decision reached by the Scottish people.
  • Said after Scotland voted strongly to 'remain' in the 2016 EU referendum while England and Wales voted to 'leave'. Quoted by the Guardian. Ruth Davidson pokes fun at Andrea Leadsom and Boris Johnson (13 July 2016)

2019

• Independence is not about the isolationism that characterises Brexit
  • Scottish Liberal Democrats: Rennie issues appeal to rival politicians BBC News (23 February 2019)

• Scotland’s 62% vote to remain in the EU counted for nothing. Far from being an equal partner at Westminster, Scotland’s voice is listened to only if it chimes with that of the UK majority; if it does not, we are outvoted and ignored.
  • Said in a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 24 April. Here are the five best quotes from Nicola Sturgeon's indyref2 update (24 April 2019) on the National website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

• The President of the United States telling elected politicians – or any other Americans for that matter – to ‘go back’ to other countries is not OK, and diplomatic politeness should not stop us saying so, loudly and clearly.
  • Said in response to Donald Trump telling four representatives to "go back" to where they came from. Ward, Stewart (16 July 2019) Nicola Sturgeon says ‘diplomacy’ must not silence Trump criticism on the National website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

• He looks to me as if he is somebody who has no real sense of principal or conviction or real view of what's right for the future for the country. His only objective throughout his entire adult life, it seems, has been to get into Number 10 and be prime minister. Now the focus is on him.
  • About Boris Johnson after his election as leader of the Conservative Party in 2019. Boris Johnson: Nicola Sturgeon has 'profound concerns' (23 July 2019) on the BBC website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

• I have profound concerns about the prospect of his premiership and it would be hypocritical not to be frank about these.
  • About Boris Johnson after his election as leader of the Conservative Party in 2019. Boris Johnson: Nicola Sturgeon has 'profound concerns' (23 July 2019) on the BBC website. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

• I'm happy to work with anybody, male or female, to try to stop Brexit
  • Brexit: Caroline Lucas criticised over all-female cabinet plan BBC News (12 August 2019)

• There was this assumption that I took a hard-nosed decision to prioritise a career over children. Women should not be judged for the reasons they have or don't have children.
  • Sturgeon 'would work with all-female emergency cabinet' BBC News (12 August 2019)

• [The SNP will] work with anybody at Westminster to try to stop Brexit, and avert the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit.
  • Brexit: Corbyn plans to call no-confidence vote to defeat no-deal BBC News (15 August 2019)

• Shutting down parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit - which will do untold and lasting damage to the country against the wishes of MPs - is not democracy, it is dictatorship.
  • Brexit: MPs ask Scottish court to block Westminster shutdown BBC News (28 August 2019)

• Today will go down in history as a dark one indeed for UK democracy.
  • Said after Boris Johnson announced he would ask the Queen to suspend Parliament in order to prevent MPs voting on or debating Brexit. Government asks Queen to suspend Parliament (28 August 2019)

• We've backed a second EU referendum, which gives people the opportunity to stop Brexit in its tracks and reverse the decision that was taken. I would also support a General Election, which would give people the opportunity to do that. And of course I want to give Scotland the opportunity of choosing our own future through independence through which we can try to fashion a future that has Scotland as part of the European Union and broader international community.
  • Nicola Sturgeon: Stopping no-deal Brexit is priority BBC News (2 September 2019)

• I'm against any form of Brexit, I want to stop Brexit, but in particular a no-deal Brexit I think will be catastrophic for our economy, society, for a long time to come
  • Nicola Sturgeon: Stopping no-deal Brexit is priority BBC News (2 September 2019)