To worry about Kate Forbes becoming first minister

[Creatine11]

Abortion and LGBT rights have been something that have largely not been part of political debate for at least the last 10 years. Gay marriage was enacted in 2014 and was broadly supported. The last serious challenge to abortion rights was at the start of the coalition government with Nadine Dorries et all. However, broadly gay rights and abortion rights have been settled issues- it has almost been taboo for politicians to oppose them. Certainly, there hasn’t been any serious possibility over the last decade (at least) of any rowing back on abortion, gay marriage, gay adoption, divorce law etc.

However, it is clear that in the heart of hearts of Forbes she disagrees with all these things due to her beliefs as an evangelical Christian. By all accounts she was very competent as a minister and has been a good MSP. However, as first minister she will be a figurehead for Scotland as well as setting the tone for policy and political discourse. Also, unlike Rees-Mogg and DUP types, Kate Forbes seems like an otherwise sensible, competent, ‘normal’ politician.

My concern is Forbes being the leader of Scotland could normalise her views on these issues. While I don’t believe abortion or gay marriage face immediate threat, if it’s brought into mainstream politics it will become a party political issue and may well shift public opinion, especially given the current culture war. Politicians, journalists, activists and others who have held these views quietly may be emboldened to launch a new campaign against abortion, LGBT rights or some other issue. I don’t know this would necessarily just be limited to Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon and her policies had a very high profile in the rest of the UK and influenced policy.

Aibu to worry about Kate Forbes becoming SNP leader and first minister?

Well it's obviously not going to happen now. I do find the Freeze Peach warriors up in arms about this, apparently obvious at how voting works.

Do you live in Scotland? I do, and this is not something I'm worried about, because it ain't going to happen!

Well if we are only ‘allowed’ to vote in people with certain views, why bother having elections? I disagree with Kate on these but I’m tired of the left thinking they have an inherent right to shut down anything they find ‘offensive’ and that we should just be able to choose from a selection of candidates they personally find acceptable. It’s beyond arrogant and why people are getting tired of them.

The whole thing is ridiculous. None of the candidates are competent. How is she being judged about being honest in what she believes for herself but understands that others believe differently, when another candidate is a practicing Muslim who dodged the vote on gay marriage not being judged?

Honestly hope none of them get in and that in some way the creepy greens get shunted.

I'm in Scotland and anyone is preferable to the Tin Pot Dictator Sturgeon, so I have no worries

No more than I am about any of the rest of them.

At least Forbes is upfront about her views.

Yusaf lies about gay marriage and says he supports the grr bill.

The whole thing is a shit show

And no I don’t think her views will ‘catch on’, they’re not the crux of her agenda, and I dare say shared by other religious politicians who haven’t been grilled because it’s uncomfortable to point out homophobia is rife in other religions than just Christianity.

Do you think a Muslim, Sikh, Jewish or Hindu First Minister would want the general population to adhere to their own religious creed??

If not - why? What's the difference?

FWIW - Angela Merkel voted against marriage equality when chancellor. While making it very clear this was her own personal opinion and vote not along party lines. There are ways, even in top politics, to handle differences of belief in a civilized fashion.

@BMW6

Yes.

I would.

Most religious people do judge others by their own beliefs and think they are right and others are wrong

The what?

No need to worry about shouty Kate getting the job.
Golden boy 'Useless' has been chosen by the Murrell cabal as the successor - he is a useful idiot to them. The others are just allowed to play along for show. The Murrells will continue to run the show through their chosen puppet (until the skeletons finish coming out the cupboards and the pair of them get jailed)

Frankly none of the candidates are any good

So in your opinion only Atheists and Agnostics should be in positions of Political power?

How would you know they weren't lying?🙄

Holyrood should be suspended, the snp choose there new leader and then we should have a general election for holyrood.

there are not very many actual card carrying members of the SNP left and they are the ones choosing the first minister of Scotland.

The nonsense my SNP member friends comes out at the moment and her fragile state of mind with the chief mammy resigning (spent two days crying!) I wouldn’t trust her judgment.

@BMW6

Yes, I don't think religion has any place in politics

You wouldn't

Generally speaking all politicians lie

Religion has no place in Government.

It's going to be Humza Useless.

Kate Forbes is too controversial for her Wee Free views which belong in the 19th century. Ash Regan is too controversial because she knows what the proper definition of a woman in.

Humza is the "continuity candidate" who will deliver more of the same shite to the Scottish population.

My issue with Kate Forbes isn't her beliefs or leadership bid, it's the fact that she's always been honest about what she thinks and yet is still voted in as an MSP and has already reached the highest levels of the party.

You therefore have to assume that her constituents agree with what she thinks. That concerns me hugely. She has a mandate to change things. It's basically a throwback to 8 years ago when you could have put a yellow rosette on a 4 year old and they would have won. So really, we get what we deserve.

We have a Home Secretary who has normalised right wing groups setting fire to police vans while getting cross at young people chucking paint at buildings.

so yes, I’d be worried especially as some Tory politicians do gently poke the abortion issue every now and then.

This

Did you worry about Ian Blackford as the SNP Leader in the HoC? If not, why not?

I’d be far more worried about Humza.

Agree with @user1471447863 & @MobyJeff .

Don’t agree with her at all, but she was honest at least. And there’s nothing I enjoy more than SNP hypocrisy being exposed in all its forms.

Wasn't she cancelled last week? It's all I heard on the news and talkshows

I would characterise her religion as Presbyterian Calvinism rather than evangelical, tbh. The Wee Frees are pretty insular. She is an elected constituency MSP so her voters largely agree with her views.

I think we have seen, over the last few years, what demonising part of the electorate does - both here and in UK.