Scots First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reveals her heartache over miscarriage for first time
Scotland’s First Minister said she chose to stay silent rather than being defined by the tragedy
NICOLA Sturgeon has told for the first time of her anguish at losing her unborn baby.
The SNP leader, Scotland’s First Minister, revealed she suffered a miscarriage at the age of 40.
Childless Ms Sturgeon, now 46, said she was preparing to announce news of the pregnancy with husband Peter Murrell, the SNP’s chief executive, when she lost the baby.
Instead of recovering at home, she decided to attend a public engagement on January 3, 2011, marking the 40th anniversary of Glasgow’s Ibrox disaster.
The politician said she then chose to stay silent to avoid being defined by the tragedy.
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In a new book, Nicola Sturgeon — Her True Story, she admits she does not know if she could have “had it all” and led Scotland’s devolved government as a mum.
She says: “If the miscarriage hasn’t happened, would I be sitting here as First Minister right now? It’s unanswerable.”
Her revelation follows a debate about the compatibility of having a family and being a political leader that erupted during the Conservative leadership race earlier this year.
During the contest leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom sparked outrage after suggesting that she would make a better PM than rival Theresa May because she had children.
Mrs Leadsom, now Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, withdrew her bid to enter No10 shortly afterwards.