The National:

NICOLA Sturgeon trolled her critics this evening by owning one of the nicknames she’s picked up over the years.

The First Minister has previously spoken on how she ended up being called “nippy sweetie” during her early years in politics.

The SNP leader said the slang was often used to describe her as assertive female politicians would be seen as “bossy” and too serious, while male politicians with the same qualities would be described as “strong leaders”.

Some staunch Unionists have continued to use the nickname, or alternatively “Wee Nippy”, to refer to the First Minister throughout her career.

But in a hilarious tweet on Saturday night the SNP leader proved that she doesn’t shy away from a joke.

Sturgeon shared a picture of a product she picked up from Pure Roasters Coffee Company during a campaign visit to Partick Farmers’ Market – named “Nippy Sweet”.

“Not sure what exactly drew me to this particular flavour,” she joked with a winking emoji.

Twitter users praised the First Minister for her “top trolling”.

Speaking in 2017, Sturgeon explained why she felt she’d picked up the “nippy” title.

She said she had started her political career surrounded mainly by middle-aged men.

“Unconsciously and unknowingly I started to behave in a way that was about conforming and fitting in with the people that I was surrounded by,” she told an audience at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

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“That was reflected I guess in how I chose to dress as a young woman in politics. In how I behaved. In politics if you are trying to fit in with how the men around you are behaving then that means you become adversarial and dare I say it aggressive in how you pursue and articulate your arguments.

“But here’s the real nub and here’s the trap for women. You find yourself emulating the traits that in men are seen as strengths. Then you quickly realise that in women they are not seen as strengths. So the male politician who’s very assertive, aggressive and adversarial is a great, strong leader. A woman is bossy and strident – a nippy sweetie as they used to call me.”