Forbes says Christian views cost her SNP leadership bid
Former Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes has claimed her religious beliefs cost her the SNP leadership, highlighting the tension between faith-based conservatism and progressive establishments in European public life.
Kate Forbes has said she was considered a guaranteed winner of the 2023 SNP leadership contest until she revealed her opposition to same-sex marriage. The former Scottish finance secretary, speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London, stated her campaign was initially viewed as a "slam dunk" before her religious views derailed it.
Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, said she would have voted against 2014 equal marriage legislation, though she would not seek to reverse it. She also faced criticism for stating that having children outside marriage was wrong and for her views on abortion and trans rights. During the event, she claimed her own team advised her to "just lie and you'll be fine" rather than be honest.
Forbes lost to Humza Yousaf but argued she "absolutely won the public support," citing thousands of messages from people who respected her integrity. Her remarks point to a broader friction within European nationalist and centre-left parties, where socially conservative voters often clash with progressive leadership.
Her appearance at the ARC conference drew further criticism from SNP colleagues due to the event's roster of right-wing figures, including Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, and Boris Johnson. The session's chair, former Australian deputy prime minister John Anderson, claimed Forbes was treated "grossly unfairly" because she is Christian, contrasting her with Yousaf. "Let's be honest, he was a Muslim," Anderson said, a statement Forbes left unchallenged.
The current SNP leadership has moved to distance itself from the event. First Minister John Swinney stated he would never speak at such a conference because he has "nothing to do with Reform." The SNP declined to comment directly on Forbes' claims but noted that Swinney had recently led Pride marches in Edinburgh.
Forbes stepped down from the Scottish parliament at May's Holyrood election, citing family commitments. Having previously served as Scotland's first female finance secretary, she briefly considered another leadership run last year before backing Swinney to become his deputy.
