SNP MP admits unease with Sturgeon ‘cult of personality’

THE SNP’S reliance on Nicola Sturgeon’s “cult of personality” to win elections was “uncomfortable”, the party’s deputy leader at Westminster has said.

Mhairi Black described her former first minister as “impressive” and insisted she would “no doubt” have a part to play in the future.

But the Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP said she did not miss Ms Sturgeon, and the party did not always get the balance right between policy and personality during her tenure. Ms Black said the ongoing police investigation into SNP finances looked “terrible” and that she had “always had my issues with how it’s run or how decisions have been arrived at” within the party.

She also lashed out at some SNP MPS at Westminster, saying they had settled too comfortably into life there and “now absolutely love being in London”.

Her comments were made on Times Radio after she announced last year she would not be contesting her seat in the upcoming general election. She cited the “toxic” work environment at Westminster as a reason for her departure.

It was broadcast the day after Ms Sturgeon’s former chief of staff Liz Lloyd said the SNP “still has some way to go” to convince people it has recovered from Ms Sturgeon’s resignation last March. In April, police raided the Glasgow home Ms Sturgeon shares with husband Peter Murrell, the SNP’S former chief executive. Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Colin Beattie, the SNP’S former treasurer, have been arrested and released without charge pending further investigations. The former first minister has denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Black was asked whether the “cult of personality” around Ms Sturgeon had been a challenge for the SNP. She said: “For me, yes. It always made me quite uncomfortable. But I do think she’s one of, if not the best-performing politicians that I’ve seen. I’ve rarely seen anybody get the better of Nicola Sturgeon.”

Ms Black argued Ms Sturgeon’s resignation was “actually quite healthy” for the party, saying: “I’m a big believer in politics should be about policy as opposed to personality.”

Attacking fellow SNP MPS, she said the political culture in the Commons changed people to the point that “you’re not normal anymore”.

‘It always made me quite uncomfortable ... but I’ve rarely seen anyone get the better of Nicola Sturgeon’