KATE Forbes has said she believes having children out of wedlock is “wrong”.
The SNP leadership candidate said in an interview with Sky News she believed it was “up to” individuals whether they had children outside of marriage but it was something she would “avoid”.
The Finance Secretary – who has lost her place as the bookies' favourite to take over as first minister since she made anti-gay marriage comments on the day she officially launched her campaign – said she would “celebrate” the birth of children outside of marriage “irrespective of the family”.
Asked for her views on having children out of wedlock, she told the broadcaster: “It's entirely up to them. It's something that I would seek to avoid for me personally.
"But it doesn't fuss me, it doesn't put me up nor down. The choices that other people make is [up to them].
"In terms of my faith, my faith would say that sex is for marriage and that's the approach that I would practice."
She added: "For me, it would be wrong according to my faith, but for you I have no idea what your faith is. So, in a free society you can do what you want."
Pressed on whether she believed it wrong for other people to have children outside of marriage, Forbes said: "You're also asking me, do I think that some of my family who have done that [have children outside of marriage] are wrong, some of my friends who have done that are wrong?
"I mean, I accept them, you know that's choices that they've made and we either live in a tolerant society where I can celebrate the birth of children – irrespective of the family – or not.
“And I do celebrate those lives that have been brought into the world.”
Forbes ignited controversy on Monday when she said she would not have voted for equal marriage in 2014, leading to a number of her backers withdrawing their support for her run at the SNP leadership.
She has also said that she did not feel self-identification was sufficient grounds on which an individual could change their gender in law – putting her entirely at odds with the Scottish Government’s gender recognition reforms.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel