Nicola Sturgeon | The Person Behind the Politics

Sun 23 Nov 2025 | 8:00pm - 9:00pm

Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon
Ali Smith

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Nicola Sturgeon for this conversation with Festival Honorary Patron Ali Smith. As Scotland’s only female First Minister, Nicola had a ringside seat at the key moments in 21st-century Scottish history. Just as comfortable interviewing writers on stage at literary festivals, she is now the author, reflecting on her own story.

In Frankly, her first book, Nicola takes readers from her working-class roots in Ayrshire to the very heart of Scottish and British politics. She offers an insider’s perspective on defining moments such as the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, the SNP’s rise to power, the Scottish Independence Referendum, the complexities of Brexit, and the unforeseen challenges of the Covid pandemic.

With candour, insight and warmth, she shares personal achievements and regrets, discusses the challenges of being a woman in a high-stakes political arena, and reveals the person behind the public figure. The result is a deeply personal and revealing memoir from one of Britain’s most significant political leaders of recent times.

In conversation with Ali Smith 

Livestream option available

Venue: TTP Stage (Cambridge Union)

Duration: 1 hour

Tickets available soon.

Author Biography

Nicola Sturgeon served as first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party from 2014 to 2023, and was a Member of the Scottish Parliament since its establishment in 1999 until she resigned in March 2023. As leader of the SNP, she worked with five British prime ministers, from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak. 

Chair Biography

Ali Smith was born in Inverness in 1962. She is the author of several novels and short story collections including, The Accidental, Hotel World, How to Be Both and the Seasonal Quartet. She has been four times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, has won the Goldsmiths Prize, Orwell Prize, Costa Best Novel Award and the Women’s Prize. Ali Smith lives in Cambridge and is an Honorary Patron of the festival.