SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes accused of being anti abortion by leading charity

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An SNP leadership candidate has been accused of being anti-abortion by a leading charity for women’s health.The British Pregnancy Advisory Service said Kate Forbes arguments about abortion being a “trauma” were straight out of the “anti-choice playbook”.She was also quizzed repeatedly about whether rape victims should be able to get an abortion.Voting opened today in the three way race between Forbes, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and backbencher Ash Regan to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.The contest has been dominated by Forbes’ personal opposition to same sex marriage and questions have also been raised about her views on abortion.At a hustings, candidates were asked about Scots women having to travel to England for late abortions.Forbes said: “I don't think any woman goes for a termination lightly, and it must be one of the most traumatic experiences that I can imagine.“In terms of the care and support that we have in Scotland.

I think we actually need to do far more when it comes to wraparound support from beginning to end for women in these situations.“Any friend I've had in a situation who's had to go through that, talks about the trauma and the challenge of it all.

And so to have to travel on top of that is only exacerbating the trauma.”The response drew a stinging response from BPAS, which is the UK’s leading abortion care service.

They tweeted: “At yesterday's #SNPHustings, a member asked about abortion in Scotland. The candidates had very different answers. “Kate Forbes might sound reasonable - but the idea that all abortion is traumatic, and care and support insufficient is straight out the anti-choice playbook.”The charity continued: “Caring for women is central to abortion services.