Sturgeon brands Harris's memoir 'self-pitying' in Observer review

Nicola Sturgeon has branded Kamala Harris's memoir 107 Days as self-pitying and exasperating in a rambling review published in the Observer, arguing that the US vice president's account fails to confront the reasons behind the 2024 defeat to Donald Trump. The Scottish leader's comments, delivered in a personal assessment of Harris's campaign narrative, come as both women face heightened scrutiny over leadership choices and policy directions on the world stage.

In the Observer excerpt, Sturgeon wrote that "Some of her comments struck me as a touch self-pitying for a woman who was second in command of the most powerful nation on earth. There is much in this book that I found exasperating, but aspects of it depressed me too." The remarks, presented as part of a broader critique of Harris's reflections on the campaign, suggest Sturgeon viewed the memoir as lacking in substantive analysis of what went wrong for the Democratic ticket in 2024. The piece notes the book’s focus on the 107 days of the campaign trail and its attempt to chart lessons for the future, even as it leaves readers asking for a deeper reckoning with the party’s strategies and outcomes.

The 107 Days narrative centers on Harris's travel across the United States and her efforts to mobilize support for a bid to lead a Democratic administration. The chapter of U.S. electoral history that Harris attempts to interpret culminated in a loss for her ticket: Trump won 312 electoral votes to Harris's 226, and carried every swing state, including Nevada—the first Republican win there since 2004. The Observer's tempered verdict on Harris's self-reflection arrives at a moment when Democrats are recalibrating their approach after a disappointing cycle and as questions persist about how leadership narratives influence public perception and future strategy.

Sturgeon's critique sits within a wider frame of cross-border political discourse surrounding leadership legacies, gender policy debates, and the accountability of public figures who publish memoirs. Earlier this year, Sturgeon's own memoir Frankly drew sharp criticism from best-selling author J.K. Rowling in a public dispute over gender ideology. Rowling urged closer scrutiny of certain positions on gender reform and warned against the influence of powerful donors in shaping political debate, while Sturgeon publicly defended her reform agenda and pressed for openness to debate on reform issues. The clash underscored how personal narratives and policy arguments can intersect in ways that shape reputations far beyond national borders.

At the same time, Christina Hendry, the niece of former First Minister Alex Salmond, weighed in by accusing Sturgeon of grounding her political narrative in family smears and cashing in on controversy. Hendry said Sturgeon faced accusations of using her predecessor's legacy to bolster her own standing and criticized what she described as strategic cashing in on reputational disputes. She pointed to Sturgeon's reported £300,000 book advance for Frankly and argued that the former leader's public remarks about Salmond risked reopening wounds rather than advancing a constructive policy discussion. The exchange highlighted ongoing sensitivities within Scottish politics about leadership accountability, the ethics of memoir publishing, and the intersection of private legacy and public legacy in shaping a political career.

Taken together, the episodes illustrate how memoirs and public reflections continue to influence political narratives in both the United Kingdom and the United States. They reflect a broader trend in which personal storytelling intersects with policy debate, media scrutiny, and the challenge of delivering a coherent forward-looking vision after electoral setbacks. In this atmosphere, Sturgeon’s and Harris’s testimonies—alongside Rowling’s criticisms and Hendry’s critiques—offer a window into how prominent figures manage legacy, respond to criticism, and attempt to influence the political conversation long after elections have concluded.