News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Kate Forbes and Nicola Sturgeon
Kate Forbes and Nicola Sturgeon
UK News

Scottish politician says she's 'guilty' of 'tiptoeing around' her Christian faith

by Chantalle Edmunds

Scotland's finance secretary Kate Forbes has described herself "as guilty as anybody of tiptoeing around" her Christian faith.

Speaking to the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Ms Forbes, an SNP MP, said although she had never tried to hide her faith, she spoke of a "fear and a sense that the public will think we only speak for our own rather than speak for everybody."

Ms Forbes, 31, is a member of the Free Church of Scotland. The church is opposed to gay marriage and generally anti-abortion.

"To be straight, I believe in the person of Jesus Christ," she told the BBC's Nick Robinson. "I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love him and to serve and love my neighbours with all my heart and soul and mind and strength.

"So that for me is essential to my being. Politics will pass - I am a person before I was a politician and that person will continue to believe that I am made in the image of God."

She said she had a responsibility to represent all of her constituents despite any difference in their beliefs and added that politicians should be able to represent everyone regardless of whether they have "walked in their shoes or completely understand where they are coming from."

"...neither do I want to deceive my constituents and I think being straight with them about my faith, about who I am, about my background is really important," she added.

Ms Forbes also added that she believed that people had "lost the ability to debate issues" without hating those who have opposing views. She spoke about her Twitter timeline and the levels of vitriol and abuse she had encountered.

Kate Forbes was born in Scotland and spent some of her childhood in India after her parents travelled there as missionaries. She read history at Selwyn College, Cambridge and is tipped by some as a potential successor to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate