SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes denied that remarks on homosexual marriage derailed her campaign.
Key supporters have announced they can no longer support the finance secretary, who stated she would have voted against same-sex marriage legislation.
She is one of the three confirmed contestants, along with Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan.
If she replaced Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister of Scotland, Ms. Forbes said she would not repeal homosexual marriage laws.
However, Scottish government ministers Richard Lochhead, Tom Arthur, and Clare Haughey, as well as health committee convener Gillian Martin and MSP Drew Hendry, have withdrawn their support for her.
The finance secretary, who was first elected to Holyrood in 2016 and has been on maternity leave, stated that she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland when it was legalized in 2014 because it contradicted her Free Church of Scotland beliefs that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch denied that the repercussions had irreparably damaged her campaign.
Not, she responded. “We have a large number of party members, the majority of whom are not on Twitter, and I am aware that individuals hold strong opinions on these issues”.
I believe the public yearns for politicians to address direct questions with direct responses, and that is precisely what I attempted to do in the media yesterday. This does not necessarily allow for a great deal of nuance.”
“Tolerant community”
Ms. Forbes insisted that, if the elected prime minister, she would not attempt to reverse the homosexual marriage legislation.
She stated, “My position on these issues is that I will vigorously defend everyone’s right to live and love without harassment and fear in a pluralistic and tolerant society.
“In the same manner, I hope that others will be accorded the rights of religious people to practice fairly mainstream doctrine. And this is the nuance we must convey regarding equal marriage.
As a democratic worker, I support equal marriages.
Ms. Forbes later told Times Radio that “she regrets enormously the anguish or hurt that has been caused” by her remarks on gay marriage, adding that she had not intended to do so and “I would seek forgiveness if that is how it has come across.
Monday, just hours after launching her campaign, Ms. Forbes made her initial remarks about homosexual marriage.
Mr. Lochhead, minister for just transition, employment, and equitable work in the Scottish government, stated that he could no longer support the secretary of the Treasury.
He tweeted that the SNP “cannot have a leader who would vote against same-sex marriage.”
Minister for children and young people Ms. Haughey, who had previously nominated Ms. Forbes for leader, posted. “I support equal marriage unequivocally. I am unambiguous on this point. And I cannot continue to support Kate’s campaign for leadership.”
Mr. Arthur, minister of public finances, withdrew his support, citing equal marriage as one of Holyrood’s “greatest achievements.”
And after disclosing she was “uncomfortable” with the remarks on gay marriage, the convener of the health committee, Ms. Martin, tweeted: “We must be unequivocal in our support for equal marriage. Not even if or but.
“I will not support Kate’s campaign based on this information. She is extraordinarily accomplished; I wish her success. However, I have red lines. Including this one.”
Drew Hendy, the SNP representative for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch, and Strathspey, has also withdrawn his support. “My focus is now on ensuring that we can return people of all faiths and none to a place of compassion, understanding, and, above all, respect,” he tweeted.
Other SNP politicians who supported Ms. Forbes include Business Minister Ivan McKee, MSPs Jim Fairlie, Sibbhian Brown, Michelle Thomson, and MSP Jim Fairlie.
Despite supporting equal marriage early, Mr. Yousaf, a leadership rival, missed the final vote in 2014.
“It’s up to her to defend her views. I’ve made mine abundantly plain,” the health minister told the GMS when asked for Ms. Forbes’ response. I believe my track record on issues of equality speaks volumes.
“I’ve been a minority in this country my entire existence, and my rights do not exist in a vacuum”.
I believe wholeheartedly that your equality is my equality because my rights rely on yours.
Therefore, I will always fight for the equal rights of others, irrespective of their identities.
Mr. Yousaf stated that, if the elected first minister, he would still contemplate appointing Ms. Forbes to his cabinet. Despite concerns that it could jeopardize the SNP’s power-sharing agreement with the Greens.
He stated, “Kate is extraordinarily talented, extremely intelligent, and has been a more than capable performer in government and the Scottish Parliament, so I wouldn’t hesitate to consider her for a position in government and cabinet if I were elected, but that would be very presumptuous.”
When asked if he would appoint Ms. Forbes at the expense of the agreement with the Greens, he responded, “The Green deal is incredibly essential to me, but Kate’s potential contribution is equally significant.”
SNP leadership candidates must receive 100 nominations from at least 20 local chapters by Friday to be on the ballot. The winner will be declared on March 27.
Kate Forbes has always been entirely open about her faith, so, unsurprisingly, she addressed it on the first day of her campaign.
However, it has not gone well for her in the short term, as several fellow ministers have disavowed her over the issue of homosexual marriage.
When Ms. Forbes has been open about her religious beliefs in the past. It may be reasonable to query why her supporters did not see this coming.
Notably, it was never viewed as an impediment to her becoming finance secretary, nor for others to hold high office in SNP administrations, such as Roseanna Cunningham and Fergus Ewing, who voted against equal marriage legislation.
Ms. Forbes claims that the majority of people are not on Twitter, where the “storm” is occurring. She hopes that the SNP membership will deliberate on this matter at a more leisurely tempo than online discourse.
There are still five weeks left in the contest, so there is plenty of time to turn things around. But rumors are already circulating that her campaign is in trouble.
