The backdrop to all of it is laid out very starkly in the first paragraphs. The Nicola Sturgeon story is essentially drenched in personal, familial and societal struggles for hitherto denied opportunities, justice and equality. The Patriarchy will never reach out to feel the truth of this from a woman with a working-class background.
Nicola Sturgeon’s book is a memoir. Just that. A subjective account of the significant life events that channelled her into politics. I feel no more entitled to review it judgementally than I would someone’s diary. Nevertheless, the reactions across the entirety of the media only serve to illustrate her continuing relevance and, as she notes herself, the place that she occupies in the minds of certain people. She is too polite to use the phrase ‘living rent free in (their) head’ but we know what she means. This is delicious and we know who she is referring to.
The detractors cover the spectrum of The Outraged, from the gender critical to the rabid unionist, to the disgruntled independence supporters of an Alba type persuasion. And lots of men. They are too many to mention, and, following Nicola’s lead, don’t really deserve a name-check. One outraged reviewer laments that she is still an MSP, inferring that she has somehow abused the system to write this memoir. She doesn’t deserve down-time to read or write.
But let’s conflate the plethora of outraged commentators and call them The Patriarchy. It is absolutely correct that any politician, and author should be open to criticism, but the vehemence with which The Patriarchy does not seem to agree with her subjective memory of events and even her feelings intrigues. It does not agree with her experience of various characters.
It particularly does not agree with her memory and personal experience of her relationship with Alex Salmond, conveniently ignoring the complexity and mixed emotions around their relationship. But that’s The Patriarchy for you, there is a tendency to lack understanding of nuance. Alex is dead. That’s the problem. He cannot answer back, they say, despite the fact that Alba was created to answer back for him, and has never stopped. Nicola acknowledges her conflicted feelings about this when she came to write the most controversial and still disputed episode over the accusations, trial and alleged conspiracy.
I find it difficult NOT to have some sympathy with Alex’s family at this time. They have been goaded and manipulated since the moment of his death, into the belief that that somehow legal action will assuage the hurt and now, in relation to this memoir, nullify the expressed views and timeline of events. I am no more qualified to judge those feelings and opinions than I am of Nicola’s. However, it would surely have been very strange indeed, and given rise to further outrage, had she suddenly airbrushed him out of the memoir at the time of his death, creating a massive redaction of an otherwise frank account.
The Patriarchy do ‘Gotcha’ well, noting a certain amount of self-depreciation that runs through the book as a theme, one that seems to contradict the confidence of a woman who talks freely of her era of stadium appeal and meetings with various high-ranking politicians, worthies and royalty. But then The Patriarchy doesn’t do nuance.
The bigger picture speaks for itself: As this former FM’s memoir currently sits atop The Times non-fiction hardback list, it seems clear that she is not only relevant, but arguably still a danger to the integrity of the union; ‘…the most dangerous woman in Britain.’ I don’t know where that statement comes from, but the BBC repeated it, so it must be true. And yet, self-proclaimed Ex-SNP media guru and speechwriter to First Ministers, Andy Collier shares the opinion with many on the independence side, that she did nothing to further the cause of independence. This view is subject to her own dissection of internal conflict throughout the book. The expressed fear of many may suggest otherwise in the longer term.
It is worth remembering that she was supposed to be dead and buried politically. Now she walks the earth with optimism; principled and happy. If she can achieve this, whatever else is she capable of? Nicola’s optimism for independence is indeed notable. At her Glasgow launch, she illustrated this by reference to the speed at which the Berlin wall fell: Sometimes seemingly unexpected events can give rise to major breakthrough of apparently stagnant circumstance.
On a personal level, Nicola has not shied away from the devastation caused by major and well documented events, not least the extended enquiry into party finances. Whether we worried for her wellbeing or rubbed our hands in anticipation of the worst outcomes possible, she has survived to literally tell the tale, complete with teasing spoilers of future plans. She told us at Glasgow University union that she still has ‘…a lot more damage to do.’ No wonder they’re scared and obsessed.
I had my takeaways from the book and launch, of course. In many ways my views and feelings about the Sturgeon years have not changed. Nothing to date has dispelled the disappointment of her approval of the fiscal conservatism of Andrew Wilson’s Growth Commission policies. No insights were forthcoming as to why Common Weal and various other think tanks and currency groups, projects etc were largely ignored in preparation for an independent nation. Maybe that’s where any similarity with the Great Outraged ends…I would not expect her to pay anything other than lip service to the amazing and unique efforts of the Yes movement in all its diversity, throughout the independence campaign. It would have been nice, but this was her memoir, her experience in government at that time. She unashamedly admits ‘The process of writing this book has helped me arrive at a more balanced sense of myself.’ A cathartic diversion from the hideous limbo-like torture of the extended police investigation.
I do not know Nicola Sturgeon in any way on a personal level, and I have no insight into the party machinery to speculate on often expressed views that she held onto the reins of power too tightly. However, as a constituent, it has long since occurred to me that her frequent personal appearances at local festivals and events flag up something quite rare in humans: She is an actual People Person. This goes way beyond extroversion or social skills. It’s an ingredient X quality that you can’t feign. It contains a vulnerability and maybe this is why I have no issues with the complexity of her lack of confidence versus her drivenness to succeed in her goals.
The backdrop to all of it is laid out very starkly in the first paragraphs. The Nicola Sturgeon story is essentially drenched in personal, familial and societal struggles for hitherto denied opportunities, justice and equality. The Patriarchy will never reach out to feel the truth of this from a woman with a working-class background.
If her origins came from a desire for justice, her final chapter as FM was equally characterised by strong principle. She explains how was almost blindsided by the rising tide of transphobia, as she tried to bring Scotland into line with a number of other nations who had embraced progressive Gender Recognition legislation. The rest is, well it’s shared history. She was snared by culture wars. We were all snared by Westminster, who put us firmly in our place as they see it.
The last decade in Scotland, since the referendum, has been a very special time. Running alongside the disappointment of our loss in 2014, has been the legacy of a politically enlightened public who demand more from our politicians, often finding their own voice within and outside of party politics. We have prided ourselves for civic Nationalism and often the envy of our English neighbours who recognise the differences.
Nicola Sturgeon has been a part of this transformation. She made it clear at the start of the pandemic that her leadership was for all the nation…and beyond it seems. Although the soft-Yes voters who shifted the polls to around 58% over a period of time may have slipped back, it is in their memory muscle now. Maybe she did indeed advance the cause of independence. I will always associate this period of progressive development with her era of leadership. She pushed against the ominous rising tide of intolerance that we are all experiencing at the moment, and that’s what we need in leadership. I look forward to seeing the damage.
