Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, Politics, Debrett's 500 2016, People of Influence

Nicola Sturgeon, MSP

First Minister for Scotland and Leader, SNP

2015 saw Nicola Sturgeon preside over the SNP’s landslide election victory in Scotland, where it won 56 out of 59 seats. ‘Queen of Scots’ and a vocal proponent of independence, Sturgeon upstaged her rivals in the televised leader debates prior to the election, which she says made her ‘probably more nervous than I’ve been for anything else in politics’. She was touted as Britain’s Most Dangerous Woman by the Daily Mail, but is a popular figure with the public, and finds herself at constant demand from selfie-takers. Sturgeon joined the SNP as a teenager and worked as a solicitor prior to joining the Scottish Parliament. In 2015 she was named the UK’s most influential woman by BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour.