Forbes: I Would Have Voted Against Gay Marriage

Kate says religion teaches that matrimony is 'between a man and a woman'

- Chris McCall

SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes has revealed she would have voted against gay marriage if she'd been an MSP at the time.

She said: "I would have voted along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman."

FORBES: I'D HAVE SAID NO

BY CHRIS MCCALL

KATE Forbes was accused of "setting fire to her leadership campaign" after admitting she'd have voted against gay marriage if she had been an MSP at the time of the landmark legislation.

The Finance Secretary, who announced her campaign to become the next SNP leader yesterday, said she would have voted against the equalities bill at Holyrood "as a matter of conscience".

Forbes' social views have become a talking point among SNP members as a result of her membership of the Free Church of Scotland.

"I believe that it should be a conscience vote because of its profound significance in all mainstream faiths," she said.

"I think for me, Angela Merkel is the example I would follow, I would have voted, as a matter of conscience, along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman.

"But I would have respected and defended the democratic choice that was made.

Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in Scotland was passed in February 2014, with 105 MSPS voting in favour and 18 against.