Nicola Sturgeon admits she should have paused gender reform legislation

In the first television interview ahead of the publication of her memoir this week, former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has spoken reliving the day her home was raided by the police, her regrets over gender reform and addresses rumours about her sexuality.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Interview sees News at Ten presenter Julie Etchingham question the former SNP leader about the political and personal revelations in her book, Frankly.

The interview will be shown on Monday at 7pm on STV and STV Player.

During the wide-ranging interview, Sturgeon talks candidly about: the shame she felt at the police raid of her home; her regrets at how she handled the gender reform bill in Scotland; her complicated relationship with political ally turned foe, Alex Salmond, as well as her sexuality and devastating miscarriage.

Police raid and husband’s arrest

Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon STV News

On April 5, 2023, Sturgeon’s husband, the SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested by police investigating SNP finances.

“I don’t really have a clear memory of that because I think I’d gone upstairs to get myself ready,” the former SNP leader tells Julie Etchingham.

“I genuinely don’t know whether, the fact that I don’t have a clear image of that in my head is because I didn’t witness it or that I have kind of somehow blocked it out.

“It wasn’t until I got to mum and dad’s that I saw the pictures of my house looking like a murder scene effectively.”

The former first minister becomes tearful and explains: “It’s really hard to articulate how I felt that day.

“I had this sense of horror and upset and the kind of shame of it all.”

Not ruling out same-sex relationship

Asked by Etchingham about her remark in the book that she has never considered sexuality, including her own, to be binary.

“I mean what it says, it’s just my view of the world and life and the way people are,” Sturgeon says.

“If you’re about to ask me am I making some big revelation? No. Am I putting labels on myself? No. That’s how I see the world.”

Etchingham asks: “Might we see you in a relationship with a woman?”

Sturgeon responds: “I’m just out of a marriage, so I’m not rushing into a relationship with anyone, anytime soon. I’m enjoying being my own person for a while

Etchingham asks: “But not ruling it out?”

“I’m not contemplating, sort of anything of that nature,” Sturgeon says, “I’m just enjoying life.”

Admits she should have paused on gender reforms

“I didn’t anticipate as much as I should, or engage as much as I should, on some
of the concerns that might then be triggered,” Sturgeon tells Etchingham.

“At the point I knew it was becoming, or felt it becoming, as polarized I should have said, ‘Right, okay, let’s pause, let’s take a step back’.

“I fervently believe that the rights of women and the interests of trans people are not irreconcilable at all. I should have taken a step back and said, ‘How do we achieve this?’.”

Nicola Sturgeon: The Interview will broadcast on Monday, August 11 at 7pm on STV and STV Player.

An extended version of the interview will be available on STV Player in the following days.

Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon, published by Pan Macmillan, is available from Thursday, August 14.