A first for Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon made history on 20 November 2014 when she was sworn in as the first female First Minister of Scotland. In a talk held by Successful Women at Glasgow in February this year, the new leader of Scotland offered a packed Bute Hall this simple advice: follow your heart.
Irrespective of your political allegiances, the Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP (LLB 1992, Diploma 1993) is a leading light for ambitious and driven young women. Having joined the SNP at 16, she has now secured the top job in Scottish politics before turning 45. She first stood for election as an MP in the 1992 UK general election aged just 21 – and only two weeks before sitting her final exams at Glasgow.
The Irvine-born Greenwood Academy pupil had always set her sights on studying at Glasgow and was the first in her family to go to university. Nicola fondly remembers graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree as a ‘very special moment’, although she jokes that her 2.1 might have been a first had politics not intervened.
While neither her first nor subsequent 1997 appearance on a Westminster ballot paper yielded a seat, this self-starter persevered in politics while working as a solicitor at Drumchapel Law Centre. Nicola was elected to the new Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a regional MSP for Glasgow, and went on to become MSP for Govan and now Glasgow Southside. From 2007, she served as Deputy First Minister to Alex Salmond. Yet even being second in command for so long hasn’t entirely equipped her for all that the new role entails.
‘Being the First Minister of the country is an awesome responsibility and an awesome privilege,’ she says.
‘Alex Salmond is fond of joking that I’ve served the longest apprenticeship in Scotland. But no past experience fully prepares you for that moment where you’ve got a big decision to take and you suddenly realise there is nobody else to take it except you. You can ask for advice, you can listen to other people, but ultimately you’re the one that has to take that decision.
‘The cliché about the loneliness of leadership is actually very true.’
Since taking up office at Bute House, Nicola has received countless messages of support and thanks from women and girls delighted to have a female First Minister. She says she feels ‘very acutely’ the responsibility and privilege of her dual role as political leader and role model for women.
The message she hopes that her tenure will send to girls and young women is this: ‘If you are good enough, and if you are prepared to work hard enough, there is nothing that should hold you back from fulfilling your dreams.’
Although Nicola says she hasn’t personally encountered overt gender discrimination on her way up the ladder, she has been
criticised in ways that her male counterparts are not. Her appearance attracts as much discussion as her opinions, and her portrayal by the media as ‘a nippy sweetie’ has been overwhelmingly negative – although the moniker was originally intended, by a union official, as a compliment to someone who could clearly fight her corner.
Gender equality, and equality generally, are issues close to the First Minister’s heart, and she is immensely proud that Scotland is now one of only three countries in the industrialised world to have a gender-balanced cabinet.
‘Your ability to succeed in life should come down to your ability, not to your gender or your race or your family background or how much money your parents had when you were growing up. It should come down to how good you are and how hard you work,’ she insists.
The First Minister believes she owes much to the University. ‘The years I spent here did a great deal to make me the person I am today,’ she says.
To those just setting out on their careers, Nicola offers the same advice she still gives herself: ‘Whatever it is you want to do in life, follow your heart. More often than not it will lead you down the right path.’
This feature was originally published in Avenue 58, the June 2015 issue of the magazine for alumni and friends of the University.
Alumni leaders
Nicola Sturgeon follows in the footsteps of several alumni political leaders, and below are a few examples:
Charles Kennedy (1959–2015)
Charles (MA 1982, DUniv 2001) died suddenly in his own home in early June and tributes are being paid to the alumnus and former rector from across the University. Born in Inverness in 1959, Charles studied Politics and Philosophy at the University. He was president of Glasgow University Union from 1980 to 1981 and won the British Observer Mace for University Debating in 1982. Charles went on to become leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1987 to 2006. His popularity continued and he proudly served two terms representing students as rector at the University from 2008 to 2014. He was the first rector to be re-elected for a second term since former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the 1870s. Read more...
A photographic tribute has been put together by our University Archives, including images of his time as a student and his time as rector, as well as articles in the Glasgow University Guardian and Avenue: Photographic tribute to Charles Kennedy
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (1836–1908)
The University’s only alumnus Prime Minister – so far – is Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (LLD 1883) who studied Greek and Logic from 1851 to 1853. The Liberal Party leader, known as CB, ended 20 years of Conservative dominance when he was elected Prime Minister in 1905. He was a great supporter of male and female suffrage at a time when only 59% of men and no women were eligible to vote. While Prime Minister, CB introduced legislation so that trade unions could not be liable for damages incurred during strikes, as well as legislation for free school meals for children. Read more...
Donald Dewar (1937–2000)
‘Father of the Nation’ Donald Dewar (MA 1961, LLB 1964) led Scotland to devolution while serving as Secretary of State for Scotland in Tony Blair’s government. Donald was appointed the inaugural First Minister in 1999 but died suddenly while in office. He had been active in politics and debating as a student at Glasgow, and first stood for election as a Labour MP in 1964, the same year he graduated with his second degree from the University. From 1962–3 Donald was president of Glasgow University Union, and is pictured above (sitting in the centre of the front row) at a union board meeting. Read more...
John Smith (1938–1994)
John Smith (MA 1960, LLB 1963) took over from Neil Kinnock as leader of the UK Labour Party in 1992. Alongside friend Donald Dewar, John began his political career while at the University. He honed many skills and political beliefs in the debating chamber of the Glasgow University Union, where he also met his wife Elizabeth. Today, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill continues to drive engagement in public service in his memory. In 2014, she announced the opening of the University’s John Smith Centre of Public Service. The Centre will help restore the reputation of the role of public servants through research and encouraging debate on the value of public service. Read more...
This article was first published in May 2015.