Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has ruled out joining the Scottish Greens as she proclaimed herself “SNP to my core”.
The comments come after the ex-party leader criticised the SNP campaign in a new foreword of her memoir released last week, claiming it lacked “vision” and “big-picture thinking”, while praising the Scottish Greens.
But speaking to broadcaster Iain Dale during a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ms Sturgeon said she would not be jumping ship.
“No,” she said when asked about a party switch.
“I am SNP to my core… I joined the SNP at 16, I will die in the SNP.”
She added: “I am not joining any other party. I will never be a member of any other party – ever.”
Some of her former colleagues in government pushed back on her criticism this week, with Education Secretary Mairi McAllan – who served as special adviser under Ms Sturgeon – saying accusations the SNP ran a bad campaign were “nonsense”.
First Minister John Swinney said the party’s push for a fifth term in office was “strong”.
On Saturday, the ex-first minister – who appointed Mr Swinney as her deputy – praised him.
“The SNP’s just won an election, overwhelmingly, deservedly so,” she said.
“John Swinney is one of my favourite people on the face of the planet.
“We’ve been close colleagues, friends, for many, many years.
“I think he is doing an outstanding job as First Minister and it makes me really proud to see how well he’s doing.”
But she added that, with the rise in Reform support, parties could face a shift to the right as the political climate moves, warning the SNP to resist such a move.
“If I make a point at all, that is relevant to my own party as much as it is to anybody else, it’s stand up for what you believe in,” she said.
