Kay Ullrich, Scottish Nationalist MSP and mentor to Nicola Sturgeon – obituary She joined the SNP out of anger at nuclear submarines on the Clyde and served as chief whip in the Scottish Parliament Kay Ullrich Credit: UPPA/Photoshot/Avalon Kay Ullrich, who has died aged 77, was a prominent figure in the Scottish National Party either side of devolution in 1999, and a mentor of Scotland’s current First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Rated by Ms Sturgeon as “one of the most influential figures in my life”, she tried four times for a seat at Westminster, and was SNP health spokesman and then chief whip during the first four years of the revived Scottish Parliament.