Scotland’s relationship with Malawi is perhaps unique – with almost every town or village in Scotland having some connection. – Nicola Sturgeon
The SNP became a minority government in 2007, then a majority one in 2011. But Labour viewed what was happening as some kind of aberration. They felt the problem wasn’t theirs: they didn’t have to change; the Scottish people had just gone down this wrong road, and if they waited long enough, they would find their way back. – Nicola Sturgeon
I feel sorry for generations of Labour voters and supporters who must look and wonder what on earth has gone wrong and what Labour is for. – Nicola Sturgeon
Scotland has a great deal to offer the world in terms of our approach to key economic and social issues. – Nicola Sturgeon
Tax credits are designed to help people who work hard but who, through no fault of their own, don’t earn enough to keep their families out of poverty. – Nicola Sturgeon
Sporting success doesn’t happen by accident. It takes hard work and determination on the part of the individual athletes. And it also takes investment in facilities and training support. – Nicola Sturgeon
Our MPs will take decisions on how they’re voting on a day-to-day basis. But I’m the leader of the party, and in terms of our overall strategy and how we vote on key issues, then ultimately, those decisions will be mine. – Nicola Sturgeon
Instead of an end to austerity, Labour has made clear that it wants to impose more austerity cuts. – Nicola Sturgeon
Most politicians come into politics because they want to make a difference; we just have different ideas how to do it. – Nicola Sturgeon
The U.K.’s debt belongs legally to Westminster, so Scotland, by definition, can’t default on it. – Nicola Sturgeon
Labour’s support in Scotland depends on their ability to be electable. If they are divided and unelectable, what’s the point? – Nicola Sturgeon
I’m the leader of the SNP. I think you would expect me to say I would vote SNP in whatever constituency I lived in. – Nicola Sturgeon
One of Ed Miliband’s shadow ministers has said he would never vote for the renewal of Trident. – Nicola Sturgeon
Because of lower life expectancy in Scotland – something that we are working hard to improve – the average woman will get รด?11,000 less in pension payments than counterparts in the rest of the U.K., even though she will pay exactly the same in contributions. – Nicola Sturgeon
Polls can change; people’s opinions can change. Voting intentions can change, and I think it would be a silly leader, a silly political party, that would assume that we have it sewn up. – Nicola Sturgeon
As First Minister, I will always act in the best interests of the country. As party leader, I will always act in the best interests of the party, and if that sometimes means taking difficult, unpalatable decisions, I will never shy away from that. – Nicola Sturgeon
I am quite hot-headed; I am quite impulsive. Fortunately, it doesn’t last very long. – Nicola Sturgeon
American companies based in Scotland employ large numbers of people – in fact, we are the best performing part of the U.K., outside London and the southeast of England when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. – Nicola Sturgeon
I’ve not hidden and I’ll never hide the fact that I want Scotland to be an independent country. But as long as we’re part of the Westminster system, it’s really important to people in Scotland that we get good decisions coming out of Westminster. So we’ve got a vested interest in being a constructive participant. – Nicola Sturgeon
Politics is a very male-dominated, male-driven profession. I was not just a woman but a young woman, and I suppose you end up trying to behave in a way that you think is expected of you. – Nicola Sturgeon
