Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish politician. On 20 November 2014, she became the 5th First Minister of Scotland. She became the leader of the Scottish National Party on 14 November 2014. She was previously the Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, and Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). She is a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Govan.


Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon 2021.jpg
Sturgeon in 2021
First Minister of Scotland
Assumed office
20 November 2014
MonarchElizabeth II
Charles III
DeputyJohn Swinney
Preceded byAlex Salmond
Leader of the Scottish National Party
Assumed office
14 November 2014
DeputyStewart Hosie
Angus Robertson
Keith Brown
Preceded byAlex Salmond
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
In office
17 May 2007 – 19 November 2014
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byNicol Stephen
Succeeded byJohn Swinney
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office
3 September 2004 – 14 November 2014
LeaderAlex Salmond
Preceded byRoseanna Cunningham
Succeeded byStewart Hosie
Ministerial offices
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities
In office
5 September 2012 – 19 November 2014
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byAlex Neil
Succeeded byKeith Brown
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
In office
17 May 2007 – 5 September 2012
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byAndy Kerr
Succeeded byAlex Neil
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Southside
Glasgow Govan (2007–2011)
Assumed office
3 May 2007
Preceded byGordon Jackson
Majority9,593 (38.5%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
6 May 1999 – 3 May 2007
Personal details
Born
Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon

(1970-07-19) 19 July 1970 (age 54)
Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)
Peter Murrell (m. 2010)
Parents
  • Robin Sturgeon
  • Joan Kerr Ferguson
ResidenceBute House
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
Signature
WebsiteFirst Minister of Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon studied at the University of Glasgow and attempted to become a Member of Parliament at the 1992 and 1997 General Elections. In 1999, she became an MSP representing the Glasgow region. She became the Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party in 2004 and because Alex Salmond was still an MP, she was the SNP's leader in the Scottish Parliament until the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. At the 2007 election, Nicola Sturgeon became the MSP for Glasgow Govan and her party formed a minority government with Alex Salmond as First Minister.

On 20 November 2014, Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister of Scotland, succeeding Alex Salmond, who had resigned after defeat in the Scottish independence referendum. She is the first woman to hold this position.

Sturgeon lives in Glasgow, with her husband Peter Murrell.

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