#dollgate - Why UK election campaign of Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon is suddenly in crisis (well, almost)

Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon on the election trail. Watch out, little girl, she'll be after your Barbies. Photo / Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon's younger sister has spilled details about the SNP leader's childhood, exposing some troubling information that many think will destroy her party's campaign.

Of course, we're talking about #dollgate, the Twitter trend that started after the publication of story in The Sun about Sturgeon's childhood escapades.

The damning leak had previously been reported by the BBC, in an interview where Gillian Owens, Sturgeon's younger sister, said: "She used to tease me quite a bit, and she used to cut the hair off my Barbie dolls, but apart from that she was a lovely sister."

The unfortunate slip of the tongue shows the hugely popular SNP leader in a very different light, and could derail her campaign at a crucial point just 12 days before the general election.

Naturally, it provoked quite a stir on social media - most prominently, with a strong denial from the SNP leader herself.

For the record, I think my sister is misremembering. I'm sure it was a Sindy doll. #DollGate

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 25, 2015

The slip prompted an outburst from media commentators, including Mandy Rhodes, editor of Scottish current affairs magazine Holyrood.

Questions of @NicolaSturgeon must be asked...#dollgate pic.twitter.com/KJ5ODUe467

— mandy rhodes (@holyroodmandy) April 25, 2015

Condemnation from dolls across Scotland soon followed.

Think of the children! #Dollgate @NicolaSturgeon @theSNP @AngrySalmond pic.twitter.com/mBvd88ocot

— Clare Ferguson (@SaltireComic) April 25, 2015

Scotland's political elite were quick to exploit the weakness in the mighty SNP campaign, with Scottish Labour deputy Kezia Dugdale calling for action.

There must be a full judge led inquiry into #dollgate with immediate effect

— Kezia Dugdale (@kezdugdale) April 25, 2015

However, words of support soon came in from sympathisers, keen to show solidarity with Sturgeon.

I also cut the hair off my sisters doll @NicolaSturgeon. I then drew a moustache on it and married it to my barbie #DollGate

— tanith harding (@tanithharding) April 25, 2015

In a desperate swerve into damage-control mode, Sturgeon tried to make amends for her past mistakes.

@LindaFSemple I'm not proud of it, Linda, but I've changed. My niece's dolls have never come to any harm. #DollGate

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 25, 2015

Fears were stoked - Sturgeon could well be pulling the strings of government in a few weeks, and concerned citizens wondered what having such a person in power could do to the UK.

The evidence began to build against Sturgeon as new details were uncovered.

And now, as revelations emerge implicating other party leaders, the election campaign looks set never to recover from today's events.

I hear @Nigel_Farage deported his Paddington bear. What other #dollgate #revelations? @WARBO234

— Peter Jukes (@peterjukes) April 25, 2015

Sturgeon could be the power broker after the election, but Labour leader Ed Miliband has ruled out any coalition with her party - and with developments like today's, it's easy to see why.

- The Independent