Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte McIntyre

Nicola Sturgeon says she went through 'painful' miscarriage during official engagement

Nicola Sturgeon has recalled being in a "lot of pain" during an official engagement while she was the deputy first minister of Scotland on Monday's Loose Women.

Sturgeon announced last month that she's stepping down as the First Minister of Scotland.

In her first television appearance since confirming the news, Sturgeon joined Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Gloria Hunniford and Janet Street-Porter on ITV's Loose Women.

The panelists quizzed Sturgeon on 'baby box' scheme, which is a welcome gift for every baby born in Scotland full of essentials from birth to six months.

Sturgeon went on to discuss the memorial book, that will be available this summer, for those who have experienced a pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks.

Nicola Sturgeon recalled the 'difficult' time in her life (ITV)

Speaking about her personal experience of grief, the First Minister said: "When I look back to when I had a miscarriage just at the very end of Hogmanay, 2010, I think back then if there had been some way recognising it, it would have brought a lot of comfort at a difficult time.

"These are the kind of things that often get dismissed in politics as 'soft soap', I think they're really important because they go to the heart of the values you have as a country and how you care for each other."

Langsford recalled Sturgeon's resignation speech in which she said: "I am a human being as well as a political," with the First Minister joking that was her "most controversial statement" during her time in politics.

The Loose Women host asked: "How do you deal with such trauma and something so personal when you are such a public figure and the next day you have to run your country [or] make a speech?"

Nicola Sturgeon joined Loose Women for her first television appearance since announcing stepping down (ITV)

Sturgeon explained she threw herself into work and referenced a photograph of her attending the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, in which 66 Rangers football supporters were crushed to death.

She explained in the image you can see the then deputy first minister was in a "lot of pain".

Sturgeon, who is married to SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was in the early stages of her pregnancy and preparing to share the news when the miscarriage occurred.

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at the Miscarriage Association. You can call them on 01924 200799 or email info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Loose Women airs on ITV on weekdays at 12.30pm.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.