We know Nicola Sturgeon will stand down next year. But don't write her off just yet | Libby Brooks
GuardianMAR 15
UK: Sturgeon Cleared in SNP Finance Probe as Husband Faces Charges
Above: Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media outside her home near Glasgow, on March 20, 2025. Image copyright: Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Sturgeon's clearance from the ongoing police investigation is a huge relief for her supporters and a vindication for a leader who faced relentless scrutiny. For years, she carried the weight of Scotland's hopes on her shoulders, leading with conviction and empathy. While critics tried to tear her down, her legacy remains one of resilience, progress, and inspiration. Now, she can finally enjoy her well-deserved peace.
Right narrative
While Sturgeon may be cleared by the police, her legacy remains rightly destroyed in the court of public opinion. If innocent, the personal and professional ignorance of a wife and party leader over what her husband and SNP chief executive was up to remains astonishing. Having stolen the success of her predecessor and changed Scotland for the worst, there is hope now that Sturgeon will finally leave public life for good.