Jacinda Ardern to visit Glasgow for documentary screening

The former prime minister of New Zealand will speak at the Glasgow Film Theatre

Dame Jacinda Ardern is to visit Glasgow next month for a talk following a screening of a new documentary about her.

The former prime minister of New Zealand will speak at the Glasgow Film Theatre on 21 November, after the Scottish premiere of new film Prime Minister.

The event will be Ms Ardern's only in-person appearance outside of London to promote the film, which won the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Ms Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37. She stepped down from the post six years later.

In 2018 she became the second elected world leader to ever give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990.

Ms Ardern also led her country during the Covid-19 pandemic and its ensuing recession. Other events she had to deal with included the Christchurch mosque shootings, and the White Island volcanic eruption.

The new documentary from co-directors Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe mixes home footage shot by her husband with never-before-heard audio recorded during her years as New Zealand's leader.

The film begins with her unexpected appointment to opposition leader in July 2017, just weeks before a general election she won.

It then goes on to cover her time in office - which saw her become recognised abroad for her handling of crisis situations at home, and become a popular inspiration for feminist groups.

However she was often targeted for abuse by the anti-vax movement and other populist-inspired right-wing protesters, furious at the lockdowns she brought in during covid.

Data released in 2022 showed police-recorded threats against Ms Ardern had almost tripled over three years.

She resigned in 2023 saying she "no longer had enough left in the tank" to carry on in the role.

Since standing down she has been involved in advocacy work, including being appointed a trustee of the Prince of Wales' environment award the Wellshot Prize.