NICOLA Sturgeon “keeps talking” and has “made some really weird statements recently”, a BBC Scotland host has claimed.
Laura Maxwell made the comments as she was interviewing Liz Lloyd, Sturgeon’s former chief of staff, on BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday morning.
The BBC host repeatedly asked if Sturgeon was “hindering” new First Minister John Swinney in his role.
Questioning Lloyd ahead of Swinney announcing his programme for government, Maxwell asked: “What about relationships within the SNP?
“John Swinney promised members he would be the unity candidate who would bring the party and perhaps Scotland back together.
“I just wonder, do you think your former boss Nicola Sturgeon is hindering his efforts?”
READ MORE: Census: More Scots than ever identifying as 'Scottish, not British'
Lloyd responded: “I don't think so, no.”
Maxwell then went on: “She’s made some really weird statements recently, just criticising the number of young career politicians in her party – that could arguably include what, herself and Humza Yousaf were both young career politicians.”
Sturgeon made the comments about the number of young careerists in the SNP and politics more widely during an appearance at the Charleston literary festival in Sussex over the weekend.
Responding to the BBC host, Lloyd said: “I think if you say anyone that joined the SNP when Nicola did was on a career trajectory, that's a bit rich.
“There was no prospect at that point of the SNP being anywhere near power.”
Sturgeon joined the SNP in 1986 and ran for the party in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency in the 1992 General Election.
Going on, Lloyd (above, left) said there was a need for young people in politics, adding: “There's a strong argument that politics has been too skewed towards the issues of the older generation and not enough focused on issues that are affecting our young people.
Maxwell then raised division in Scottish politics and the split around gender reform, highlighting how Sturgeon had “admitted on one of her literary talks that the abuse she faced over the trans debate helped convince her to quit as Scotland's first minister”.
Lloyd said: “I think one of the things that we need to do in Scotland is to try our best, all of us, to move on, if you like, from issues that have divided us in the past.
“Now there still needs to be a resolution to some of those issues. But the way in which we have gone about our politics for the last two years – and this is the sort of ‘plague on all your houses’ comment – has prevented progress in some places.”
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak refuses to dampen General Election speculation at PMQs
Maxwell then said: “I wouldn’t be asking you about this if Nicola Sturgeon didn't go on book festivals and start talking about them.
“So, she keeps talking.
“Is she hindering John Swinney?”
Lloyd again responded: “No, I don't think she is.”
Swinney is set to lay out his government’s priorities in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon.
The BBC has been asked for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel