Daily Show host told by Scotland’s first minister that US ‘doesn’t usually’ ask permission to invade oil-rich countries

Nicola Sturgeon has proved her comedy credentials in the United States, despite being compared with Saddam Hussein, after risking a late-night audience with the Daily Show’s combative host Jon Stewart.



The reinvention of the SNP | David Torrance Read more

Monday night’s interview on Comedy Central’s hugely influential satirical news programme marks another spike in the Scottish National party leader’s burgeoning international profile, as she becomes the most senior serving UK politician to appear on the show.

Stewart, whose trademark style is to mercilessly tease guests, made the comparison with Hussein after Sturgeon joked she had “ordered an inquiry” into why the SNP won just 56 out of 59 Scottish parliamentary seats in the UK’s recent general election. The host responded: “You think you’re Saddam Hussein? You get 99%?” “I think you should always aim for more,” Scotland’s first minister shot back.

Sturgeon also took her host to task after the Daily Show website described her in error as a comedian. She told Stewart in mock outrage: “You billed me on your website as a comedian, so you’ve raised all these expectations that I’m going to be funny. And I’m a politician, and as you know, politicians are rarely very funny.”

But Stewart parried: “You need not worry. They thought I was going to be funny for 17 years.”

Sturgeon went on to joke about America’s military record after Stewart questioned her about Scottish oil reserves: “How much are we talking about here? May we invade you?” She told the audience: “I think this is progress because you just heard there Jon, presumably on behalf of the United States, ask permission to invade an oil-producing country. It doesn’t usually work that way.” Stewart laughed and said: “See that? You are a comedian.”

During her four-day trip to New York and Washington DC, Sturgeon has already garnered headlines feting “Scotland’s feminist first minister” and “the star of Scottish politics”.



Nicola Sturgeon to debate with Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner Read more

Earlier in the day, Sturgeon insisted in an interview on the business channel Bloomberg TV that Scotland could “shoulder” the burden of the SNP’s flagship plan for full fiscal autonomy, which would require the country to fully fund spending through its own tax revenues and borrowing. She also argued that the collapse in the oil price “doesn’t change the fact that I believe Scotland would be a prosperous independent country”.

Sturgeon’s visit will include a number of business engagements aimed at highlighting Scotland’s success in attracting US investment, as well as meetings at the World Bank, IMF and an address at the Council on Foreign Relations.