Kate Forbes and the future of faith in Scottish politics

James Bundy on Kate Forbes decision to step down at the next election.

When Kate Forbes announced that she will step away from Holyrood at the next election to spend more time with her family, it was more than just the departure of a senior politician. It was a moment that revealed something deeper about Scotland’s political culture: about how we treat people of conviction, about the challenges of public service for young families, and about the place of Christian witness in our public square.

For Christians in Scottish politics, her exit raises a pressing question: if one of the most talented, articulate, and respected parliamentarians of her generation finds herself walking away, what does that mean for those who follow?

Kate Forbes’ career has been marked by qualities that are in increasingly short supply in our politics: intellectual seriousness, courtesy towards opponents, and a determination to put the common good ahead of party advantage. Her colleagues across the Chamber recognised this when news of her decision broke. Praise came not only from allies in the Scottish National Party but also from political rivals, a rare occurrence in a Parliament often defined by tribal division.

I write this not as a member of her party, I am a Scottish Conservative, but as someone who has seen, across the political divide, how rare it is to combine conviction with civility in Scottish politics. Forbes was willing to work across party lines in a way that frustrated some in her own ranks. She treated members of other parties as partners in solving Scotland’s problems rather than as enemies to be defeated.

Her dealings with the UK Government were marked by the same spirit. Ministers in London may have clashed with the SNP leadership, but few had a bad word to say about Forbes’ personal approach. Even when disagreements ran deep, she earned respect for being constructive and professional.

In a political climate that rewards point-scoring over problem-solving, that alone made her stand out. But what made her truly distinctive was that her public service was shaped, quietly but unmistakably, by her Christian faith.

That faith came under the spotlight during the SNP leadership contest of 2023. Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, faced intense questioning about her personal views on marriage, abortion, and gender identity. She answered those questions honestly. She did not seek to hide or soften her beliefs. But she also made it clear that in a parliamentary democracy, her personal convictions would not be imposed on the law.

In a healthier political culture, that distinction might have been enough. In ours, it was not. Some of her rivals and sections of the media treated her beliefs as disqualifying. Progressive activists openly declared they could not accept a First Minister with such views. For many Christians, watching from the sidelines, this was a moment of sobering clarity: public life in Scotland has grown less tolerant of orthodox Christian belief, even when expressed with grace and restraint.

And yet, Forbes’ response to that scrutiny was a masterclass in Christian witness. She did not lash out at her critics or retreat into defensiveness. She articulated her views calmly, with charity, and without compromising the truth. She reminded us that conviction and civility can coexist, indeed, that they must coexist if public debate is to be fruitful.

She lost that contest narrowly, 52% to 48%, to Humza Yousaf. But she emerged from it with her integrity intact, and with a public profile that extended well beyond party lines.

In Holyrood, her departure will be felt most keenly in the absence of a voice willing to challenge the prevailing orthodoxies of her own party, and to do so without rancour. That takes courage, a virtue in short supply in any political era, but particularly now, when social media outrage can turn a moment’s candour into a career-threatening storm.

For Catholics and other Christians, her example offers two important lessons. The first is that it is still possible to speak openly about one’s faith in Scottish politics, but doing so requires not only conviction but also prudence, humility, and charity. The second is that this path is not easy, and those who walk it often face isolation from both political allies and cultural opinion-makers.

Her decision to step away is not, she has said, because she is a Christian. The reason is far more down-to-earth: the difficulty of combining parliamentary life with raising a young family. For anyone who has experienced the demands of politics, the late nights, the constant travel, the unrelenting public scrutiny, this will ring true. But it should also trouble us deeply. If our political system cannot accommodate the realities of family life, then we will lose not only people of faith, but also many others who could bring wisdom, compassion, and groundedness to public service.

So, does Kate Forbes’ departure mark the end of Christians in Scottish political life? No. But it does underscore the challenges they face. Reaching the very top, becoming First Minister, is harder for practising Christians who openly hold to the teachings of their Church and admit that they believe them. Not impossible, but harder.

The barriers are not just about media scrutiny of personal beliefs. They are also about the narrowing of what is considered “acceptable” opinion in public life. A culture that claims to celebrate diversity often has little patience for genuine diversity of worldview, especially on moral questions. That reality should concern not only Christians, but anyone who believes in a truly pluralistic democracy.

If we want more Christians to serve in public life, two things are needed. First, those of us in the pews must support them, not just with our votes, but with prayer, encouragement, and practical help. Political life can be lonely, and the knowledge that a community is standing behind you can make the difference between staying the course and stepping away.

Second, Christians who feel called to politics must prepare themselves to live in that tension, to hold fast to their faith while working alongside those who do not share it, and to witness in both word and deed to the hope that is within them. Kate Forbes has shown that this can be done. She has also shown that doing it well may come at a cost.

Kate Forbes leaves Holyrood with her reputation intact and her political future open. It would not be surprising to see her return to public life in years to come, perhaps when her family are older, or when the political climate shifts. Whether or not that happens, she leaves behind an example worth following: a model of politics that is principled without being self-righteous, courageous without being combative, and grounded in something greater than personal ambition.

For Christians, her story is not a cause for despair but a call to engagement. If the public square is growing colder towards people of faith, that is more reason for us to enter it, not to impose, but to propose; not to dominate, but to serve.

Kate Forbes has shown that a Christian in politics can do just that. Her departure is a loss for Scotland. But her example is a reminder that our witness depends on living the truth, in season and out of season, and on doing so with the charity that turns even political opponents into neighbours.

As she steps away to devote herself to her family, we can wish her well and pray that she finds joy in the quieter seasons of life. And we can hope, too, that others will rise to follow in her footsteps, Christians willing to bring their whole selves, faith and all, into the service of the common good. Scotland needs them more than ever.

By James Bundy