Gay marriage row hits frontrunner to succeed Nicola Sturgeon

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes has suffered a major backlash after saying she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland – insiting her Christian views are widely shared.

Insisting her campaign could survive the criticism, Ms Forbes confirmed BBC Radio 4’s Today that if another vote on same sex marriage was held again today she would vote against it as a “matter of conscience”.

Ms Forbes told the programme that if people of faith were “barred” from high office “then we’re moving into very dangerous days in Scotland, considering some of the positions I’ve outlined are common across all major faiths – including Islam, Christianity and Judaism”.

The finance secretary – one of the two leadership frontrunners to succed Nicola Sturgeon – said she would not have backed historic legislation passed in 2014, but would have “respected and defended the democratic choice that was made”.

“I think for me, Angela Merkel is the example I would follow, I would have voted, as a matter of conscience, along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman,” she told The Scotsman.

“But I would have respected and defended the democratic choice that was made. It is a legal right now and I am a servant of democracy, I am not a dictator.”

Leadership rival Humza Yousaf, the Scottish health secretary, distanced himself from Ms Forbes’ position – saying he backed same-sex marriage and would “always fight for the equal rights of others”.

He also said he would not legislate on the basis of his faith. Speaking on LBC, Mr Yousaf said: “I’m a supporter of equal marriage. Let me get to the crux of the issue that you’re asking me. I’m a Muslim. I’m somebody who’s proud of my faith.

“But what I don’t do is, I don’t use my faith as a basis of legislation. What I do as a representative, as a leader, as a member of the Scottish parliament is my job is to bring forward policy and pursue it in the best interest of the country.”

Criticising her comments, SNP MP Hannah Bardell said Ms Forbes “could have perhaps reflected that even though she couldn’t have voted in favour of equal marriage she might understand how hurtful and disappointing that might be to many of us and that she recognizes that”.

A senior member of Ms Forbes campaign told The Scotsman she had already “f*****” her leadership bid after saying she would have voted against gay marriage.

Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson tweeted: “I’m pretty sure that, with this, Kate Forbes has just set fire to her leadership campaign on the very same day as she launched it.”

Ms Forbes said on Tuesday that her campaign is “absolutely not over” despite a backlash on her equal marriage views. Asked if her leadership bid was doomed on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme, she replied: “Absolutely not.”

“I think the public are longing for politicians to answer straight questions with straight answers and that’s certainly what I’ve tried to do in the media yesterday. That doesn’t necessarily allow for much nuance.”

Ms Forbes’ public views on equal marriage come after she said she would not have voted for Mr Sturgeon’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in its current form.

As she was on maternity leave, she did not participate in the final vote before the new year. But she was one of 15 SNP politicians who publicly called on her party to delay the proposals which make it easier for transgender people to self-identify as their chosen gender.

“My concerns about self-ID have been well documented and I would have continued to have those concerns about self-ID … I think I would have struggled to support that self-ID element of the Gender Recognition Act,” she said.

Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, also condemned the “illiberal discourse” around her faith and how her religious views could impact her decisions as first minister.

“It is quite an illiberal discourse. Because if we get into the territory of suggesting that anyone who holds public office is to be barred to people of faith, then it sends a very bad signal to the countless people of faith and no faith in Scotland today.”

Ash Regan is also running to be leader, making clear that ditching the gender self-ID reforms and an aggressive push for a second Scottish independence referendum will be at the top of her campaign agenda.

Scotland’s constitution secretary Angus Robertson made the surprise announcement ton Monday that he will not stand to succeed Ms Sturgeon as SNP leader, citing family commitments.