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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Minister of Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 20 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 14 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Stewart Hosie Angus Robertson Keith Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy First Minister of Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 17 May 2007 – 19 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Minister | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Nicol Stephen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 3 September 2004 – 14 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Roseanna Cunningham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Stewart Hosie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Southside Glasgow Govan (2007–2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 3 May 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Gordon Jackson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | 9,593 (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 19 July 1970 Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse(s) | Peter Murrell (m. 2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parents |
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Residence | Bute House | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of Glasgow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Website | First 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.