Kate Forbes claims she was 'slam dunk' for SNP leadership until revealing gay marriage views

The former cabinet secretary was beaten by Humza Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership contest.

She lost many of her backers during the race for saying that she would have voted against gay marriage and that people should not have children out of wedlock.

At the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London last week, she claimed she was told to lie about her views.

But Ms Forbes said said that the public respected politicians who took difficult positions on issues.

She said that she had “absolutely won the public support” despite narrowly losing to Mr Yousaf.

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Ms Forbes was speaking in a question and answer session about “the challenge of leading with integrity”.

She said that in the leadership contest she was initially viewed “as a bit of a slam dunk” and “was very much in the lead”.

But she lost many of her key backers when she said that, if she had been an MSP in 2014, she would have voted against same-sex marriage legislation. But she also said she would not overturn it.

The Free Church of Scotland member also said having children outside of marriage was “wrong” and was criticised for her views on abortion and trans rights.

When asked if it had been hard not shying away from her beliefs, she told the conference: "All these wonderfully committed team members, who wanted me to win, had great advice - just lie and you'll be fine.

"I ended the first 24 hours just so thankful that, in the face of the questions, I hadn't crumbled.

"The end result felt like a victory because during that period I thought I had not given in when I could have."

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Former Australian deputy prime minister John Anderson, who was chairing the event, claimed Ms Forbes had been treated “grossly unfairly” because of her Christian beliefs.

Referring to Mr Yousaf, he said that the contest had been "in favour of somebody who was probably every bit as committed to those views, and even more hardline, but happened to be of a different faith".

He added: "Let's be honest, he was a Muslim."

Ms Forbes did not challenge him on this.

The former SNP MSP said the public received her well after she revealed her religious beliefs.

She said: "When you're getting into taxis and people are saying 'you're the only honest one amongst [the politicians]' that feels good."

She said in her speech that she had received “thousands on thousands” of messages from people who supported her right to expression even though they disagreed with her.

Ms Forbes said: "I answered questions honestly about my faith, and the way it shaped my view of sex and gender, of marriage and family. The backlash was instant and fervent."

Ms Forbes has been criticised by some in the SNP for speaking at the ARC conference.

This is because it featured many right-wing figures, with Nigel Farage and Donald Trump supporters appearing. Kemi Badenoch and Boris Johnson also took part.