Haughey withdraws support for Forbes’ leadership bid
Blantyre’s MSP pulled out of supporting SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes after less than 24 hours – saying the Finance Secretary’s comments on gay marriage are“the polar opposite”to a progressive Scotland.
Clare Haughey, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Children and Young People, announced on Monday she was supporting Ms Forbes to replace Nicola Sturgeon as both SNP leader and as Scotland’s First Minister.
However, the campaign for Ms Forbes has run into controversy after she stated that she would not have voted in favour of same sex marriage in 2014 if she had been an MSP at the time.
Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, added that she would not seek to overturn the existing laws.
She also stated her opposition to the Scottish
Government’s controversial gender recognition act, prompting claims of transphobia. Less than 24 hours after announcing her support for the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Ms Haughey withdrew her support.
Expanding on her decision, the Rutherglen MSP – whose constituency also covers Blantyre – said:“i supported Kate’s leadership bid as I thought she would be a capable First Minister. Prior to this endorsement, I had sought and gained assurances from her on her plans, views and policies.
“It quickly became evident that the opinion and views Kate has been expressing in her campaign are the polar opposite to both my beliefs and views and to the modern, progressive Scotland I want to live in.
“I wholeheartedly support the LGBT+ community, reproductive rights, and gender recognition reform, as is evidenced in my parliamentary voting record, and there must be no rowing back of these rights.
“The SNP must continue to champion equality and human rights, and so I have withdrawn my support for Kate.”
Ms Haughey declined to say if she had chosen another candidate to support in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon, who announced last week her intention to stand down.
Ms Forbes later stated in interviews that she apologised for any hurt she caused by her comments, and that she would “defend to the hilt everybody’s right in a pluralistic and tolerant society to live and to love free of harassment and fear”.
Ms Forbes is one of three candidates currently in the running, alongside the health secretary Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan, the party’s former minister for community safety.
Candidates have until Friday to secure the required 100 nominations from at least 20 local branches of the party, with the winner being declared on March 27.
Meanwhile, following last week’s announcement by Ms Sturgeon that she would be stepping down, Lanark & Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley thanked the First Minister for her friendship and commitment during her time in the top job.
Ms Crawley said: “Nicola has inspired a generation of women, like me, to become leaders in their communities. She has demonstrated an ability to lead with empathy, compassion and integrity. I want to thank her for her friendship, her commitment to equality and her vision for Scotland.
“She led this country through the Covid-19 pandemic with honesty and integrity.
“She has been a dedicated and committed public servant for more than two decades, her progressive leadership and vision for the SNP and for Scotland will endure for longer.”