EXCLUSIVE: The difference between Kate Forbes and Tony Blair is she ‘does do religion’, says top political scientist
Sir John Curtice says Kate Forbes' public speaking on her religion is 'unusual' for a top politician
SNP leadership frontrunner Kate Forbes would be a different kind of leader to Tony Blair because she ‘does do religion’, a leading political scientist has said.
The SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, who announced her leadership bid earlier today, has come under fire in recent days over her membership of the Free Church of Scotland, an now-separate evangelical group once part of the main Church of Scotland.
In the past, the Finance Minister has expressed scepticism towards abortion as a practice and refused to say that she supported same-sex marriage.
Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said although there have been numerous religious political leaders in UK politics, none have allowed their faith to impact upon their political profile and stances as much as Ms Forbes.
The polling expert referred to a now infamous quote from Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair’s chief press secretary, telling the former Prime Minister “we don’t do God” when he had wanted to speak about his religion.
Ms Forbes, Mr Curtice said, “is somewhat unusual in that she has spoke very very openly about her religion – and obviously it’s a very evangelical one”.
He added: “I mean Tony Blair was clearly – and still is – extremely religious but he essentially only converted to Catholicism after he stopped being prime minister and Alastair Campbell said in the meantime ‘we don’t do religion’.
“Forbes does religion.”
However, other leading figures in the SNP, including leadership rival Ash Regan and SNP MP Joanna Cherry have come to Ms Forbes’ defense, condemning the criticisms as “misogynistic attacks”.
Ms Regan said: “I am utterly appalled by the misogynistic attacks on Kate Forbes because of her faith.
“Kate is and always will be a great friend and colleague and it distresses me to witness this. It must stop immediately.”
Asked how the Finance Secretary could best mitigate any negative reaction surrounding her religious views, Mr Curtice said: “If I were her, I think you would have to say: ‘these are my personal views but these are matters upon which people of good faith disagree and I will be ensuring that the law of Scotland as it currently stands should be administered accordingly’.
