Former Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament Joanna Cherry has called on Nicola Sturgeon to be more open about her sexuality, criticizing what she described as the former first minister’s ambiguous statements on the matter.
Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Cherry contrasted her own "strong and happy relationship" with her girlfriend to Sturgeon’s public remarks, which have included comments suggesting her sexuality is not strictly binary. Cherry accused Sturgeon of “teasing” the public with the possibility that she might be a lesbian but refraining from a clear declaration. Cherry argued that Sturgeon should be straightforward about her identity if she chooses to raise the issue publicly.
Cherry’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the two former SNP politicians, marked by a series of public disagreements in recent years. Sturgeon recently responded to Cherry, saying she had no reciprocal interest in the latter’s apparent fixation on her and dismissed Cherry’s latest book, which is critical of Sturgeon’s leadership, as “s***.” Cherry in turn condemned Sturgeon’s use of “foul language” and accused her of evading substantive discussion of the criticisms raised in the book, titled *Keeping the Dream Alive*.
The debate around Sturgeon’s sexuality resurfaced following the publication of her memoir *Frankly*, in which she stated she had "never considered sexuality, my own included, to be binary." After her marriage to Peter Murrell—who was imprisoned for embezzlement related to the SNP—broke down, Sturgeon said she could fall in love with a man or woman.
Cherry also addressed Sturgeon’s controversial Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill, legislation passed under Sturgeon’s leadership that would have allowed Scots to change their legal gender through self-declaration without a medical diagnosis. The bill faced considerable opposition, notably from the UK Government, which ultimately vetoed it. Cherry argued the proposed legislation would have undermined the rights and protections of lesbian women, highlighting the importance of balancing gender identity reforms with the rights of lesbian and gay individuals protected under the Equality Act.
During the interview, Cherry speculated that Sturgeon might defect to the Scottish Greens, noting Sturgeon’s praise for the party and criticism of the SNP’s recent campaign strategy in the Scottish Parliament elections.
Describing Sturgeon as an “embarrassment” to the SNP, Cherry said the former first minister’s handling of internal party divisions and public discourse risked further fracturing the party. The ongoing personal and political rivalry between the two former SNP figures continues to attract attention as Scottish politics navigates questions of identity, representation, and party unity.