Police Investigation Described as 'Mental Torture' by Nicola Sturgeon in Personal Memoir, Which Also Covers Topics of Sexuality and Miscarriage
Nicola Sturgeon's new memoir, Frankly, offers a candid look into the personal and professional challenges she faced in recent years. The book, set to be published on Thursday, delves into her experiences of a high-profile police investigation, a miscarriage, and rumours about her personal life.
In June 2023, Sturgeon was arrested and questioned by police in connection with an investigation into £660,000 that had gone missing from the Scottish National Party (SNP) accounts. Her ex-husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and treasurer, had been arrested and charged earlier. Their home was searched, but the investigation into Sturgeon and her colleague, Colin Beatie, was eventually dropped. Sturgeon describes this period as "the worst day of my life" and compares the experience of undergoing a high-profile criminal investigation for nearly two years despite having done no wrong to "a form of mental torture."
Sturgeon also shares her personal struggles, including a miscarriage in late 2010. She went to work in constant agony shortly after learning about the loss, even attending a memorial event for the Ibrox disaster's 40th anniversary. She found out about the miscarriage while receiving a flu jab and had to quickly visit Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The book also addresses rumours about Sturgeon's sexuality, specifically speculation about an affair with a female French ambassador to the UK. Sturgeon rejects the binary view of sexuality, stating she has had long-term relationships with men over 30 years but believes sexuality should be viewed as more fluid and private.
In her memoir, Sturgeon also reflects on her time as the first minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. She describes finding solace looking out across the North Sea in the north east of Scotland during the investigation. Writing the memoir, she says, has been a therapeutic exercise, helping her process these traumatic experiences and personal struggles after stepping down from frontline politics in 2023.
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- The investigation into £660,000 missing from the Scottish National Party (SNP) accounts in 2023, which involved Sturgeon and her colleague, Colin Beatie, was a prolonged period of personal and professional distress for Sturgeon, akin to "a form of mental torture."
- Sturgeon's memoir, Frankly, sheds light on her personal life, revealing her resilience in the face of adversity, such as a miscarriage in late 2010, which she endured while continuing to work amidst constant agony, even attending public events.
- In her memoir, Sturgeon discusses the rumors that swirled around her personal life, including speculation about an affair with a female French ambassador to the UK, and advocates for a more fluid and private view of sexuality, rejecting the binary view.
