Kate Forbes, former deputy first minister of Scotland, remains a divisive figure within the Scottish National Party (SNP) nearly three months after stepping down from the Scottish Parliament. Forbes attracted renewed attention following a speech delivered in London to the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference, where she reflected on her near-success in the 2023 SNP leadership contest.
During her address, Forbes revealed that, prior to the leadership vote, she was widely considered a "slam dunk" candidate to replace Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister. However, she acknowledged that her personal views, particularly on gay marriage, significantly impacted her campaign. Forbes told the audience that supporters advised her to "just lie and you’ll be fine," advice she ultimately rejected.
Her stance on social issues, rooted in her Christian faith as a member of the Free Church of Scotland, has sparked ongoing debate within the party. Forbes previously stated that she would not have supported gay marriage if she had remained an MSP, and also described having children outside of marriage as "wrong" and "something that I would seek to avoid." These positions provoked considerable backlash and are widely seen as factors that contributed to her narrow defeat by Humza Yousaf in March 2023.
Among those defending Forbes is Alex Neil, a former health secretary and supporter of her leadership bid. Neil criticized the party’s handling of her campaign, describing it as marked by opposition from what he called a "cabal" of senior Nationalists. He argued that Forbes’ leadership could have provided stability, stating, “It would have been much better for the SNP and the independence cause if she had won. We wouldn’t be in the sorry mess we’re in now.” Neil also emphasized respect for her religious beliefs despite personal disagreements.
Conversely, some within the SNP have expressed frustration with efforts to recast her legacy. Lloyd Quinn, a former SNP MSP, dismissed what he called “Kate Forbes’ mythology” as unhelpful to the party’s future. Another SNP parliamentarian, speaking anonymously, questioned whether the leadership contest was meant to select a figure to guide Scotland towards “a progressive future,” rather than a return to more traditional social norms.
In her recent speech, Forbes said that political contributions from Christians are often “de-legitimised” by critics. She said the experience of the leadership race, despite the eventual loss, felt like a personal victory because she did not compromise her beliefs under pressure. Forbes claimed to have received "thousands on thousands" of messages from people who disagreed with her views but supported her right to express them.
Forbes briefly returned to government following Yousaf’s resignation in 2024, when she was appointed deputy first minister. However, she resigned from that role earlier this year. Her political future remains a subject of interest as internal SNP debates over leadership and party direction continue.