Nicola Sturgeon has never been a stranger to public scrutiny.
From her years at the helm of Scottish politics to the headlines surrounding her personal life, she’s lived much of her journey under an unrelenting spotlight.
Now, in her soon-to-be-released memoir Frankly, the former First Minister opens up like never before—tackling rumours, personal heartbreak, and the emotional toll of political life.
Speaking Out on Sexuality for the First Time
For the first time, Sturgeon addresses long-circulating speculation about her sexuality.
She makes it clear that she’s never seen sexuality as “binary” and stresses that sexual relationships should remain private.
While she’s had decades-long relationships with men—including her marriage to former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell—she refuses to let others define her personal identity.
The Rumours That Wouldn’t Die
Her memoir dives into the bizarre and persistent gossip that swirled in 2020, claiming she was in a secret relationship with Catherine Colonna, then the French ambassador to the UK.
The rumours took on a life of their own, complete with absurd tales of a “violent encounter” in a luxury Edinburgh hotel and an alleged “love nest” purchased from tennis star Andy Murray’s mother.
Sturgeon recalls her frustration as the whispers spread openly—sometimes even reaching her neighbours.
Laughing Off the Gossip
While Sturgeon says the speculation irritated her, she and Colonna managed to joke about it.
They even appeared together at events after lockdown—at COP27, for example—knowing full well it would set the online rumour mill spinning.
Still, Sturgeon points out the darker side of the gossip: the homophobia at its core, and the unsettling way fake stories can snowball on social media.
Deeply Personal Loss and Motherhood Regret
The memoir also reveals one of the most private chapters of her life—a pregnancy at age 40 that ended in miscarriage.
Sturgeon writes candidly about feeling ambivalent when she first discovered she was expecting, guilty for not sharing her husband’s excitement, and later devastated when the pregnancy ended.
She describes the heartbreaking moment she and Murrell said goodbye to the baby, a grief she says has never left her.
If it had been a girl, she would have named her Isla Margaret.
Balancing Career and Personal Choices
Reflecting on motherhood, Sturgeon admits she regrets not having children but says her decision was always influenced by her political ambitions.
She’s clear, though, that her life hasn’t been “worthless” without becoming a mother, even if she sometimes wonders how things might have been different.
The Day That Changed Everything
Sturgeon calls June 11, 2023—the day she was arrested in connection with a probe into SNP finances—“the worst day of my life.”
She recalls the surreal moment police raided her home, likening it to stepping into the pages of a dystopian novel.
Although she was later exonerated, she describes the nearly two-year investigation as “mental torture” that left her struggling with anxiety, sleepless nights, and constant fear.
A Flicker of Hope Amid the Ordeal
Despite the ordeal, Sturgeon says her husband’s arrest briefly gave her hope that she might be cleared.
Throughout it all, she held on to her faith in the justice system—relieved when she was finally exonerated in March this year.
Looking Ahead to the Book’s Release
Frankly is set to hit shelves on August 14, with Sturgeon making a special appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to launch it.
She’ll also sit down for an in-depth TV interview next month with ITV News at Ten’s Julie Etchingham—just days before readers get the chance to see her story in her own words.