Nicola Sturgeon faces fortnight of criticism over trans prisons policy

Nicola Sturgeon during a press conference on Scottish government issues in Edinburgh claimed some opponents of gender recognition reform were using women's rights as a ‘cloak of acceptability’ for transphobia. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/PA

Few can be anticipating Holyrood’s recess next week as keenly as Nicola Sturgeon.

She has endured a fortnight of relentless and increasingly personal criticism, punishing headlines and lacklustre polling. Meanwhile, her critics in the media have declared her career is “over”.