Inverness Cathedral provost and UK equalities minister praise 'honesty' of under-fire SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes
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THE provost of Inverness Cathedral and a prominent UK cabinet member are among those to have defended Kate Forbes overnight over her controversial comments on same-sex marriage and faith.
Sarah Murray took to social media last night to say she was "disappointed" that backers in the party who will have known her views on religion had been quick to "step aside" and disown her.
She said: "We risk losing many talented people by dismissing them because they don't share our own perspective and views.
WATCH: Kate Forbes ‘very sorry for any hurt that I have caused anyone’
"She is being honest and holding her integrity just as we all strive to do ourselves.
"I'm so glad that I can officiate at weddings for anyone who has found the person they wish to spend the rest of the live[s] with.
"It's disappointing that the people who backed her so quickly have stepped aside.
"She's a human being who deserves better from her colleagues and friends."
Forbes' political rival, Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch, also defended Forbes, while making it clear that she supports same-sex marriage.
Speaking of the controversy, she said: “I think that is sad because I believe in freedom of conscience. That’s one of the things that makes this country great. It’s one of the reasons why many people want to live here.”
“It’d be very easy for her to tell lies, just so that she could win that election. And she’s not doing that, and I think that that’s something that people need to take into account.”
