SNP frontrunner Kate Forbes says she would have voted AGAINST gay marriage in Scotland at the time it was made legal in 2014 as race to replace Sturgeon heats up

• SNP lead candidate Kate Forbes said she would have voted against gay marriage 
• Finance secretary is one of the two frontrunners to succeed Nicola Sturgeon

SNP lead candidate Kate Forbes said she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland at the time it was made legal almost a decade ago. 

The finance secretary, 32, one of the two frontrunners to succeed Nicola Sturgeon, 52, as SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland, said in an interview that she would not have backed the legislation, but would have ‘respected and defended the democratic choice that was made’. 

Equal marriage was made legal in Scotland in 2014 with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes to 18, while Ms Forbes was not elected to Holyrood until the 2016 election. 

Talking to The Scotsman, Ms Forbes, who has been on maternity leave and away from frontline politics since early summer last year, said she would not have supported equal marriage as a ‘matter of conscience’ if she had been a member of parliament at the time.

She cited the example of Angela Merkel as a leader who voted on the matter ‘with her conscience’.

SNP lead candidate Kate Forbes (pictured) said she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland at the time it was made legal almost a decade ago

Nicola Sturgeon dropped the bombshell that she is quitting last week, after a torrid spell where the SNP slid into chaos over its abortive bid to loosen gender identity rules and dwindling support for independence

Humza Yousaf, 37, (pictured) is the Scottish Government’s health secretary, who became Scotland’s first Muslim Cabinet minister in 2018, when he was appointed justice secretary

Who is Humza Yousaf? 

Humza Yousaf, 37, is the Scottish Government’s health secretary, who became Scotland’s first Muslim Cabinet minister in 2018, when he was appointed justice secretary.

He has been MSP for Glasgow Pollok since 2016, having previously been elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Glasgow region in 2011 at the age of just 26.

Despite being tipped as a possible replacement for Ms Sturgeon as First Minister, Mr Yousaf’s chances could be harmed by the current health crisis in Scotland.

He has come under particular pressure over long waiting times for ambulances and emergency care.

Mr Yousaf has a daughter and a stepchild with his second wife Nadia El-Nakla. 

She said: ‘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. 

‘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.’ 

After giving her views on gay marriage, the Scottish Health Secretary and SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf, 37, said in an interview that he would not legislate on the basis of his faith. 

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC on Monday, 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. 

‘I’ll be fasting during Ramadan in a few weeks’ time. 

‘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.’

Ms Forbes’ public views on equal marriage came after she said she would not have voted for the Scottish Government’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 has been clear on her opposition since 2019.

She was one of 15 SNP politicians who publicly called on her party to delay the controversial proposals which make it easier for transgender people to self-identify as their chosen gender. 

She said: ‘My concerns about self-ID have been well documented and I would have continued to have those concerns about self-ID. 

‘It’s very difficult to talk hypothetically when it comes to a Bill but I think I would have struggled to support that self-ID element of the Gender Recognition Act.’ 

However, if she had voted against it, she would have been required to leave her position as Finance Secretary.

Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes swiped at the need to ‘widen’ the SNP’s appeal as she confirmed she is a candidate

Ms Forbes also condemned the ‘illiberal discourse’ around her faith and how her religious views could impact her decisions as First Minister. 

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland and had previously said her faith did not impact her ability to serve as an MSP. 

She said: ‘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.’ 

Earlier, Ms Forbes committed to ensuring women are free from harassment and fear around abortion clinics following a plea from campaigners. 

She said women should not ‘be subjected to fear and harassment’ when attending clinics across the country. 

It comes as campaigners Back Off Scotland wrote to Ms Forbes – and her opponents in the leadership race Mr Yousaf and Ash Regan – to ask for support in implementing 150-metre safe access zones around hospitals administering abortions. 

She said: ‘I would say that I certainly don’t think that women going for an abortion should be subjected to fear and harassment. 

‘And so, I’d be willing to work with Gillian Mackay who is introducing the Bill.’

Who is SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes is a leading member of Ms Sturgeon’s administration who is being tipped as the favourite to replace her.

The fluent Gaelic speaker became the Scottish government’s finance secretary in February 2020, the first woman to hold the post.

Kate Forbes married Alasdair MacLennan – a widower chimney sweep 10 years her senior – in July 2021.

Her husband, known as Ali, had three daughters – Rachael, Rebekah and Zara – with his Indian first wife Priya. She died in 2014, aged just 38.

Ms Forbes, 32, went on maternity leave last July – the first ever serving Scottish Cabinet secretary to do so – and gave birth to her daughter Naomi in August.

The daughter of missionaries, Ms Forbes spent much of her childhood in India.

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the ‘Wee Frees’, which is opposed to gay marriage and believes there are few circumstances in which abortion is justified.

Ms Sturgeon’s government was accused of rushing through its controversial gender identity reforms before Christmas, while Ms Forbes remained on maternity leave, in order to prevent a potential revolt by the 32-year-old. 

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