Sturgeon throws book at female MSPS

Nicola Sturgeon was talking at a literary festival

- BY BEN BORLAND

NICOLA STURGEON has brutally dismantled the leadership ambitions of any current female MSPs who hope to one day lead the SNP, including one who was her own protege.

The former first minister told an audience in London that “I can’t say with certainty there will be another female leader any time soon”.

This will come as a surprise to the likes of Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan, who began her career as one of Ms Sturgeon’s special advisers, and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth. Both women are believed to harbour ambitions to lead the party.

It is also likely to be offensive (although not as personally wounding) to high-flying women in rival parties, including Labour's deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie and the Scots Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton.

In addition, Meghan Gallacher — who comes from a working-class background in Lanarkshire — is tipped as a future Scots Tory leader who could reconnect the party to the public in a similar manner to Ruth Davidson.