Sturgeon urges politicians to ‘get off social media and out into real world’

Nicola Sturgeon has warned politicians to “get off social media” as she prepares to step down as an MSP.

The former first minister – who has become an avid user of Instagram in her post-premiership years – urged MSPs to “speak to real people” and understand their concerns rather than issues which caused rancour online.

Since stepping down from the top job, the former SNP leader said she had realised the difference between the issues that were important to politicians and to the public.

Speaking to the Press Association in her final interview before stepping down, Ms Sturgeon said: “Now that I’m not first minister, I wander around much more freely than I could when I was first minister, on public transport and just out and about living life.

“This kind of toxic, divisive politics that is very much reflected in parliaments – including this one – it’s just not in the wider public.

“I think politicians – and I would have included myself in this if I was still in active politics – need to get off social media and out into the real world a lot more.

“Talk to real people and appreciate that your obsessions, whether that’s people or issues, are not always the obsessions of people out there.”

She said voters were concerned with paying their bills and feeding their children.

Since leaving office, Ms Sturgeon has continued to be a feature in the Holyrood chamber, even when she is not there in person, with opposition politicians continuing to criticise her actions while in government.

“I think for a lot of politicians… I live rent-free in a lot of people’s heads,” she said.

“I often think that’s a real shame, because they don’t live in mine.

“I guess they probably wish they did, but they just don’t.”

She said: “I say this gently to them – what do you think your obsession with me is actually gaining you anymore?

“I’m not standing for election, you’re not up against me anymore, but… I suppose I take it as a bit of a compliment in some ways.”

Ms Sturgeon also engendered anger and contempt from her own side, with the former SNP leader’s push for gender reform exposing a split in the party, while others criticised her strategies on achieving Scottish independence and the breakdown of her relationship with her predecessor, the late Alex Salmond.