The recent SNP leadership contest, in which Humza Yousaf narrowly defeated Kate Forbes, has left the party grappling with questions about identity and integrity. At the heart of this debate lies Forbes's views on same-sex marriage, which she has consistently attributed to her Christian faith – a perspective that ultimately cost her the backing of many within the SNP.
Speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London last week, Ms Forbes revealed that she had been advised by supporters to conceal her opinions on contentious issues. Yet, she insisted that politicians who demonstrate integrity by taking difficult stances – even if unpopular – often earn significant public respect. Despite losing the leadership contest, Ms Forbes claimed to have 'absolutely won the public support'.
The former Deputy First Minister's attendance at the conference drew criticism from within the SNP, with some questioning her decision to share a platform with prominent right-wing figures, including Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson. However, Ms Forbes's speech at the event, which focused on the challenges of leading with integrity, allowed her to reiterate her stance on key issues.
In a question and answer session chaired by former Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, Ms Forbes explained that her leadership bid was initially seen as 'a bit of a slam dunk' – until she publicly articulated her views on same-sex marriage. She stated that while she would not seek to reverse the 2014 laws permitting same-sex marriage, she had personally voted against them.
Ms Forbes's comments on abortion and trans rights have also faced scrutiny, with some critics accusing her of holding 'hardline' views. When asked about the pressure to compromise during the contest, she responded that many supporters advised her to 'lie and you'll be fine', but she chose instead to stand by her principles – a decision she described as a 'victory'.
Mr Anderson, chairing the Q&A session, suggested that Forbes had been treated 'grossly unfairly' due to her Christian beliefs. He also made explicit comments on the leadership contest favouring Yousaf, who is Muslim, implying that his faith may have played a role in his success – a statement that Ms Forbes did not challenge.