Kate Forbes says she was 'slam dunk' for SNP until gay marriage
Kate Forbes says she was viewed as a 'slam dunk' for the SNP leadership in 2023 until she disclosed that she would have voted against same-sex marriage legislation. The former deputy first minister told a London conference that advisers urged her to lie about her faith; she lost narrowly to Humza Yousaf and has since left Holyrood. Her remarks have reignited Scotland's debate over conscience, power and who gets to lead.
Forbes's account lands as party veterans and commentators argue the SNP still fears her influence. The story matters beyond culture wars: as Scotland's former finance secretary, she managed the national budget before a campaign that cost her the party's top job and, ultimately, her seat in parliament.
Key Takeaways
- Forbes claims she led the 2023 SNP leadership race until backlash followed her same-sex marriage stance.
- She says advisers told her to hide her Christian views; she refused and lost to Humza Yousaf.
- Speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference, she called the defeat a moral victory.
- First Minister John Swinney distanced himself from the 'anti-woke' event and Reform-linked speakers.
- Forbes stepped down as an MSP after the recent Holyrood election, ending a high-profile political career.
Why did Kate Forbes say she was a 'slam dunk' for SNP leadership?
Speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London last week, Forbes said her 2023 bid was initially seen as 'a bit of a slum dunk' and that she was 'very much in the lead,' according to BBC News.
Forbes had been finance secretary and was widely regarded as a credible successor to Nicola Sturgeon. Her record managing Scotland's budget featured heavily in early commentary — until questions about faith overtook economic credentials.
What happened when Kate Forbes revealed her gay marriage views?
Early in the campaign, Forbes said she would have voted against Scotland's 2014 equal marriage laws had she been an MSP at the time, though she would not seek to overturn them. A member of the Free Church of Scotland, she also faced criticism over views on abortion, trans rights and having children outside marriage.
Forbes told the ARC audience she answered questions honestly about how faith shaped her views on 'sex and gender, of marriage and family.' The backlash, she said, was 'instant and fervent,' and several ministerial backers withdrew support. She narrowly lost the contest to Humza Yousaf.
At the conference, Forbes said committed campaign staff advised her to lie: 'just lie and you'll be fine.' She cited her father's counsel that compromise is never worth it.
How did John Swinney respond to her ARC conference speech?
The ARC summit — co-founded by Jordan Peterson and attended by Nigel Farage and Reform UK MPs — has been described as an 'anti-woke' gathering. Forbes's appearance drew criticism within the SNP.
Asked in Glasgow on Wednesday, First Minister John Swinney said he 'certainly wouldn't' have attended. 'I'm going to have nothing to do with Reform,' he told journalists, according to The National.
Forbes, who served as Swinney's deputy before leaving parliament, said losing the leadership still felt like victory because she refused to compromise. She reported receiving 'thousands on thousands' of messages from people who disagreed with her but backed her right to express conscience.
What does this mean for Kate Forbes's career now?
Forbes stepped down as an MSP at last month's Holyrood election, closing a chapter that included deputy first minister and finance secretary roles. The Herald argues the SNP 'still fears Kate Forbes and loathes all that she stands for,' suggesting her Christian conscience remains a flashpoint in Scottish politics.
For figures who once commanded economic portfolios, leaving elected office shifts the calculus on influence, income and public platform. Her ARC speech signals she is not retreating quietly — and Scotland's cultural divisions are unlikely to fade with her departure from Holyrood. For more on how political careers shape public profiles, see our Net Worth & Wealth coverage.