Nicola Sturgeon reveals she has started writing 'counterfactual political thriller'

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she is in the early stages of writing a murder mystery political thriller.

At the Wigtown Book Festival, where she discussed her new memoir Frankly, the former first minister said she had discussed the idea of a novel with her friend, the crime writer Val McDermid.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I am going to give it a go. And I’ve kind of started, and let’s just say it’s in the realms of a political thriller. It’s a bit of a counterfactual political thriller.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, heads along to the Edinburgh International Book Festival launch event of her memoir 'Frankly', at the McEwan Hall in Edinburgh in August | PA

“I did think when I first started, though, that the problem I might have – given the long years I’ve spent in politics – is there are probably too many people I want to kill. So, you might have a murder literally on every page.”

The former SNP leader also accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of “selling snake oil”.

When asked about voters being disillusioned with the established parties, Ms Sturgeon said Mr Farage’s party had risen because “people are alienated from traditional politics”.

‘Snake oil’

She said: “Those problems are not imagined. They’re real. And no politician worth their salt should pretend that if people are being tempted by Farage, it makes them bad people.

“But Farage is selling snake oil, and he’s looking for scapegoats. Farage’s analysis is that it’s all immigrants that are causing the problems. But the idea that the UK’s problems are down to immigration is just nonsense.

“Most migrants who come to the UK come to work or to study. The reason irregular illegal immigration has gone up is Brexit.

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“The problems the UK are suffering right now largely stem from the financial crisis exacerbated by Brexit. Who was the chief proponent of Brexit? Yes, I am talking about you, Mr Farage.”

Ms Sturgeon called on “left and progressive politicians” to come up with solutions to the problems people are concerned with.

She said: “So, for goodness’ sake, can politicians of the left and progressive politicians find a backbone, start taking on the nonsense Farage is spouting and come up with better solutions to the problems people are experiencing?”

Sir Keir Starmer was also mentioned by Ms Sturgeon at the event as she said she believed the Prime Minister “legitimises” Mr Farage.

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She said: “If I’ve got a real gripe – and I’m sure I’ve got more than one – with Keir Starmer right now, it is that instead of offering better alternatives and better solutions than Farage, he seems to legitimise Farage by effectively saying: ‘Yeah, yeah, immigration is the problem.’”

Earlier this week, Ms Sturgeon and McDermid signed a letter that insists that the far right are not “defenders of women”.

It was backed by 200 women and organisations, with other signatories including actress and comedian Elaine C Smith, Denise Mina, and musician and actor Clare Grogan.