Frankly: Nicola Sturgeon in conversation
Event details
The first female and longest-serving First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon is one of the most influential political figures of our time. In conversation with author, journalist and political commentator Gavin Esler, she reflects on her remarkable career in an era marked by Brexit, Covid and five different UK prime ministers.
From helping to bring Scotland to the brink of independence in the referendum of 2014, to her interactions with figures including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Alex Salmond, gain an insider’s view of key political moments.
Drawing on her memoir Frankly, Nicola shares insights into her achievements and offers her thoughts on what the future holds for her, Scotland and the political world more broadly.
Book sales
You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.
About the speakers
Nicola Sturgeon served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party from 2014 to 2023 and has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament since its establishment in 1999. As leader of the SNP, she worked with five British Prime Ministers, from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak. Frankly (Pan Macmillan, 2025) is her deeply personal memoir of her time in office.
Gavin Esler is an award-winning journalist, television presenter, political commentator and author. He was a main presenter of the BBC current affairs show Newsnight for 12 years until 2014. He presents the podcast This Is Not a Drill and is the author of books including Britain Is Better Than This (2023) and How Britain Ends: English Nationalism and the Rebirth of Four Nations (2021).
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