Nicola Sturgeon

Scottish politics, U.K. politics, is not really like American politics in this respect. Not everybody is absolutely obsessed with image. I'm not saying the United States is obsessed with image.

I want there to be another independence referendum at some stage. I want Scotland to be independent, but I wouldn't choose to have it happen because England votes to come out of the E.U.

I'm not making any secret of the fact I still believe in independence. We'll continue to argue the case.

Scotland is not a region of the U.K.; Scotland is a nation, and if we cannot protect our interests within a U.K. that is going to be changing fundamentally, then that right of Scotland to consider the options of independence has to be there.

I don't feel we need to be independent for me to feel confident in my Scottish identity. I think Scotland is pretty comfortable in its identity. We won't need independence to preserve it... if we don't become independent, it won't disappear; it isn't under existential threat.

I'm a politician, and as you know, politicians are rarely very funny.

True gender equality in Scotland - and elsewhere - is still some way off.

I am a social democrat - I believe in pursuing greater equality and tackling social justice - but... you can't do that unless you have got a strong economy, unless you have got a vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that possible.

Equality and prosperity shouldn't be seen as enemies of each other, but as partners. One reinforces the other.

My pledge to you is that the SNP will put women and gender equality right at the heart of the Westminster agenda.