Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, has expressed a surprising sentiment of “affinity” towards Boris Johnson after reading his memoir. In a review of Johnson’s new book, “Unleashed,” Sturgeon shared her thoughts in The New Statesman. Despite criticising the former Prime Minister’s tendency for self-justification, she acknowledged moments of candour in the 784-page memoir which covers Johnson’s time in office from 2019 to 2022, including the challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sturgeon, who stepped down unexpectedly last year, admitted to feeling a similar weight of responsibility over Covid-related decisions as she read about Johnson’s struggles in the book. She noted instances where they both faced difficult choices, such as the decision to ‘cancel’ Christmas in 2020. Sturgeon said she found a sense of connection with Johnson in these moments of crisis, even though she indicated that he did not always convey the same gravitas during his leadership, especially amidst the pandemic.
Despite her critical analysis of Johnson’s character in the memoir, Sturgeon admitted that the book was not as negative as she initially anticipated. She highlighted that while it was an “easy” and “snappy” read, Johnson’s tendency to downplay serious issues and make crass jokes for narrative purposes was evident throughout. Sturgeon pointed out instances where Johnson made derogatory remarks about fellow politicians, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Prime Minister Theresa May, as well as taking jabs at her own appearance during the Covid-19 crisis.
Sturgeon did acknowledge Johnson’s commendable stance on supporting Ukraine after Russia’s invasion but criticised his inconsistent views, particularly in connection with his past support for Donald Trump. In her conclusion, Sturgeon reflected on her experience reading Johnson’s memoir, noting that while it was not as arduous as she expected, she was not eager to make a habit of delving into Johnson’s narrative in the future.