If you have a Tory government at Westminster that takes us out of Europe against our will, there may be people in Scotland who think, ‘You know what, we might be better off independent.’ – Nicola Sturgeon
My politics are wildly different from hers, but someone who has been good for women in politics, stamped her authority on European and world affairs, is Angela Merkel. – Nicola Sturgeon
I think the Tories are doing – and are intent on doing – damage to things I hold dear. – Nicola Sturgeon
I’m quite hypercritical of myself. It’s a very Scottish thing, always thinking that you’ve got to be that bit better than everyone else to be good enough. – Nicola Sturgeon
Is it not typical that we have a Tory Government that wants, just like its pals in the Labour Party, constantly to talk down Scotland’s prospects? – Nicola Sturgeon
The U.K. needs a strong opposition, and Labour shows no signs of being capable of being that. The SNP is filling that void and will go on seeking to do that. – Nicola Sturgeon
I came into politics because of my opposition to what a Tory Government was doing to the community I grew up in. – Nicola Sturgeon
We will never vote for the renewal of Trident; that’s a decision which will fall to be made in the next Westminster parliament. We will never vote for that. – Nicola Sturgeon
Any politician or campaigner trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public won’t get very far. – Nicola Sturgeon
Since I became First Minister, I have made clear my priority to alleviate poverty and tackle inequality in Scotland. Ensuring that everyone can do better in life will not only make Scotland fairer, but it will also make it a more prosperous place. – Nicola Sturgeon
I’ve never had a voice coach, but I am about to name drop horrendously here: I did once get some advice on how to project my voice from Sean Connery, which was lovely. It’s all about where you breathe. That’s my claim to fame. – Nicola Sturgeon
I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously. – Nicola Sturgeon
Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, it is possible for other parties to change the direction of a government without bringing a government down. – Nicola Sturgeon
People who think of a nationalist party sometimes think ‘inward-looking and parochial.’ The kind of nationalism I represent is the opposite of that. – Nicola Sturgeon
London has a centrifugal pull on talent, investment and business from the rest of Europe and the world. That brings benefits to the broader U.K. economy. – Nicola Sturgeon
The fact that healthier lifestyles and advances in medicine mean that we are living longer is actually something to be celebrated. – Nicola Sturgeon
If something can be proven to work, we should try it… Making sure that our young folk get the best education is the only thing that matters to me, and if something can be shown to work in doing that or if something’s worth trying to do that, then I’ll certainly be in the market for it. – Nicola Sturgeon
There are lots of jobs and investment in Scotland dependent on our membership of the E.U. single market. – Nicola Sturgeon
If your pal or neighbour is in the SNP, you’re more likely to listen to them than if you just turn on the telly and see me or Alex. The growth of membership is building a politically engaged community base that hasn’t been there in my lifetime. – Nicola Sturgeon
It is one of the little known facts about modern Scottish politics that it is not quite as cut-throat as people think it is. – Nicola Sturgeon
I think Scotland will become an independent country. I’ve always believed that. It means that if I’m right on that, there has to be another referendum at some stage. But the timing and circumstances of that will require careful judgment. – Nicola Sturgeon
There is nothing in your background that inherently holds you back or means you can’t achieve what others can achieve. You are the master of your own fate, and if you work hard, you can do what you want. – Nicola Sturgeon
Governments in countries across the world have a duty to do everything possible to keep the public safe from terrorist attacks. – Nicola Sturgeon
It’s not opinion polls that determine the outcome of elections, it’s votes in ballot boxes. – Nicola Sturgeon