KATE WILL KEEP THE FAITH

Forbes says honesty is best policy after swipe from rival

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf took a swipe at SNP leadership rival Kate Forbes over her opposition to same sex marriage during the first party hustings last night.

Yousaf said gay Scots would have to look the next first minister in the eye and know they would advance their rights.

Three candidates - Yousaf, Forbes and Ash Reganwent head to head in Cumbernauld in the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.

The race has so far been dominated by Forbes, an evangelical Christian, saying she would not have voted for same sex marriage in 2014.

After a question on whether someone of faith can rise to the top, Health Secretary Yousaf mentioned gay rights without the issue being raised.

He said: "It's so, so important that whoever is First Minister, that whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, whoever you are, you can look the First Minister in the eye and you can have confidence that they will not only protect your rights, that they will not only tolerate you, but that they will celebrate you and that they will advance your rights where they possibly can.

Forbes, the Finance Secretary, said: "I've answered more questions on faith in a matter of days than most politicians will ever do in their lifetime. Obviously, from my perspective, the last few weeks I've learned a lot.