FORMER first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the need to seek more privacy in the wake of internet rumours was “part of the reason” for her resignation.
The Glasgow MSP resigned as leader of the SNP in February, citing the funeral of independence activist Allan Angus as the moment which cemented her decision.
She told a new BBC Scotland podcast that online gossip surrounding her had been “part of the reason” behind the decision.
“I’m not naïve, I’m not of the view that I will step down one day and be completely anonymous the next day, I understand the realities of what I have done and I’ll still be in Parliament, but I want to have a bit more privacy," Sturgeon said.
She added: “I want to have a bit more anonymity and I just want to protect some of what people take for granted in their lives that I’ve forgotten to have.”
Rumours which spread about the former first minister included that she had an extra-marital relationship with a French diplomat with the pair supposedly buying a house from tennis star Andy Murray’s mother Judy.
Another claim dismissed by Sturgeon was that she has a global property portfolio and a super injunction in place to hide this.
She said: “I read accounts of my life on social media and I think, ‘you know it is so much more glamorous sounding and so much more exciting’.”
Sturgeon was officially replaced as Scotland’s First Minister by Humza Yousaf earlier this week.
He chaired his first Cabinet meeting after unveiling his new team and faced his first FMQs on Thursday.
Part of his new team includes a minister for independence which sparked fury amongst the Tories despite the UK Government appearing to have spent millions on attempting to garner support for the Union.
