Daily Mail column questions Nicola Sturgeon’s focus on outside earnings over day job

A Daily Mail column by Stephen Daisley questions Nicola Sturgeon’s commitment to her role as MSP for Glasgow Southside, arguing she has prioritized outside earnings and public appearances since stepping down as Scotland’s first minister in March 2023, about two and a half years ago. The piece frames her post‑government years as a shift from frontline politics to a string of literary, media and business ventures that critics say divert attention from the constituency she represents.

The columnist notes that Sturgeon has remained in Parliament only intermittently, tallying 12 speeches in the past 12 months. He adds that roughly half of those interventions were points of order over technical problems with her voting app, a detail the column describes as illustrating a limited day‑to‑day parliamentary role while she pursues other work. The article further contends that her return to the backbenches has coincided with lucrative outside earnings: a company she has set up, a reported 300,000 pound book advance for her memoirs, and additional income from media appearances and book reviews. Specific figures cited include about 151,500 pounds earned through the book advance portion of her deal, 25,000 pounds for ITV election‑night commentary, and 6,600 pounds in book review fees.

Beyond the parliamentary chamber, the column turns to Sturgeon’s constituency, Govanhill in Glasgow Southside. It cites government data identifying Govanhill as a hotspot for poverty, overcrowding and health disparities. The notes highlight Govanhill West as a child poverty blackspot, with 88 percent of children classified as deprived and 69 percent in the eastern part of the neighborhood according to UK Government figures released last year. The piece underscores the plight of Roma families, noting Govanhill hosts Scotland’s largest Roma community where six in ten describe housing as poor or very poor and about one in four report rodent infestation. The columnist argues that a full‑time MSP is needed to champion the concerns of residents facing such conditions, suggesting that Sturgeon’s focus on non‑parliamentary work leaves the community underrepresented.

The article also addresses the broader arc of Sturgeon’s post‑ruler career, including her memoir, a literary agent arrangement, and speaking engagements at forums such as book festivals and conferences. It references public commentary on governance and rule of law as part of her ongoing public profile, and it recounts the long‑running strain with former SNP ally Alex Salmond over the party’s direction, including disputes over independence policy and same‑sex marriage. The column portrays these tensions as markers of a political celebrity trajectory that, in the author’s view, has overshadowed policy deliverables and constituency service. That framing implies the electorate in Glasgow Southside would benefit from a representative who can dedicate more time and focus to local needs rather than outside pursuits.

In closing, the column asserts that politicians inevitably pursue opportunities beyond their official duties after leaving government, but judges that Sturgeon’s continued public presence and outside earnings raise questions about the balance between public service and private gain. The piece concludes with a blunt assessment: the author believes Sturgeon is in it for herself, not the residents she represents.