Nicola Sturgeon laughs off having 'secret private life'

Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon says social media speculation over her private life made it appear much more exciting than it was.

She told BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell that some people wanted to believe there was a "hidden secret life of Nicola Sturgeon".

She addressed gossip over her marriage and sexuality in a new BBC podcast.

Ms Sturgeon announced in February that she was stepping down, in part because of the "brutality" of political life.

In the interview for the Nicola Sturgeon Podcast, the 52-year-old reflected on her eight years leading the government at Holyrood and what life might hold next.

In episode two Ms Sturgeon was asked what she thought of social media speculation.

• Sturgeon: Learning to drive will give me personal freedom

"Apart from the fact that I read accounts of my private life on social media and I think, you know it is so much more glamourous sounding and so much more exciting. I have got houses everywhere if you believe social media," she laughed.

Ms Sturgeon added: "The fact that people still don't think they know everything about me, well to some extent, I take that as a bit of an achievement, because I have obviously managed to protect a little bit of a private persona and that is a good thing.

"But of course for other people it isn't because they don't know anything about me, it is because they want to pretend, and they want other people to believe, there is one hidden secret life of Nicola Sturgeon, which sadly in some respects I am afraid is not the case."

Nicola Sturgeon, with her husband Peter Murrell, led her party to eight election wins in eight years

She went on to say that by stepping away from the high-profile role she was seeking a "bit more privacy, a bit more anonymity".

Ms Sturgeon became first minister and SNP leader after the referendum of September 2014 failed to deliver Scottish independence.

At that point she was already a seasoned politician, having been a member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999, and deputy leader of her party since 2004.

Under her stewardship she led the SNP to a series of election victories at UK, Scottish and local level.

Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she wants a "bit more anonymity"

When Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation at a hastily arranged press conference on 15 February her colleagues talked of their shock.

Her then deputy first minister John Swinney said he was "very sorry" to hear the news but "completely" understood.

Ms Sturgeon told the gathered media that a first minister was "never off duty", had "virtually no privacy" and it "takes its toll on you and those around you".

In this second episode of the BBC podcast, crime writer Val McDermid said some of the rumours she had heard about Ms Sturgeon were "laughable in their absurdity".

The politician's friend added that there were those who wrongly claimed "exclusive knowledge" about her.

Crime writer says some of the stories about her friend Nicola Sturgeon are incorrect

McDermid said: "She [Sturgeon] has been a focus for the lies as well as the criticism, and that is deeply upsetting."

The podcast also heard from Liz Lloyd, who was Ms Sturgeon's chief of staff and had worked with her for more than 20 years.

She speaks about her former boss's "look when you say something stupid", her "sharp sense of humour" and the fact "she can laugh at herself".

Ms Sturgeon formally stepped down on 27 March when her former health secretary Humza Yousaf won the contest to succeed her as SNP leader and first minister.

Although giving up front line politics, she will remain an SNP MSP for the Glasgow Southside constituency and sit on the backbenches.

Hear more of the conversation by subscribing to the Nicola Sturgeon podcast on BBC Sounds - Episode 2, Nicola Sturgeon - The Person is available now.