Senior SNP figures would welcome a period of silence from Nicola Sturgeon, according to Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon. He argues that her repeated statements following her estranged husband Peter Murrell's guilty plea to embezzlement in May are not helping her cause.
Sturgeon's Contradictory Statements
After Murrell pled guilty, Sturgeon made a statement condemning him and vowed to make no further comment. However, she quickly contradicted this pledge and has been issuing a blizzard of statements through her lawyer Aamer Anwar. Hutcheon notes that this has raised more questions about her judgement and performance as SNP leader.
Poor Interview Adds to Damage
A poor interview with BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg turned the situation into a full forest fire, making the former First Minister a figure of fun. Sturgeon, once known for her fierce attention to detail, is now asking Scots to believe she had no suspicions about Murrell's twelve-year crime spree until his arrest in 2023.
Transparency Issues
Hutcheon highlights the previous twenty-four hours as typifying her sloppy approach. In the Kuenssberg interview, she gave the impression she would be relaxed about releasing her Operation Branchform police statement. Yet on Monday night, she slammed the door on this transparency, saying it would stay under lock and key. Instead of symbolizing openness, she looked like a politician with something to hide.
Options for Damage Control
A friend suggested Sturgeon could undo some self-inflicted damage by choosing one of two options: either say no more and live her new life in London without providing a running commentary, or opt for transparency, publish her written police statement, and come out fighting. Instead, she is caught in a halfway house, releasing statements that satisfy no one.
Questionable Legal Advice
Even her allies privately question her decision to appoint Aamer Anwar as her personal lawyer. While Anwar is a solicitor skilled at pressuring authorities on behalf of the underdog, he is not the go-to lawyer for maintaining a 'no comment' line and leading a quiet life. Hutcheon suggests a suspicion persists that Sturgeon is a limelight addict who cannot walk away from the stage.
Edinburgh Fringe Appearance Criticized
Hutcheon notes that even a simple act like agreeing to appear at the Edinburgh fringe next month is an avoidable mistake if she does not want media attention. The fresh controversy over Yes Scotland's accounts will likely lead to another statement from Sturgeon, who caused huge controversy by giving a 'no comment' interview to police as part of Operation Branchform. Another period of silence from her would be widely welcomed by the party she once led.
