SNP MSPs to 'vote against' Kate Forbes as First Minister over same sex marriage row

dailyrecord.co.uk:

SNP MSPs are planning to scupper Kate Forbes’ bid to lead the country by refusing to vote for her as First Minister.Her opposition to same sex marriage could pave the way for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.It comes as a new poll found the finance secretary to be the most popular of the contenders to take over.But an SNP insider said: "Some MSPs will not vote for Kate.”Forbes has attracted huge criticism after she said she would have voted against gay marriage in 2014 and described having children out of wedlock as “wrong”.Her comments led to supporters deserting her campaign, but she has vowed to stay in the three way contest with health secretary Humza Yousaf and backbencher Ash Regan.A senior party source told the Record Forbes would struggle to become First Minister even if she was elected SNP leader.The source said up to six SNP MSPs would not vote for her as FM:“Very strong feelings have been aroused in the early days of this campaign because issues raised are so fundamental to who we are as a party, a people and a Government.“Who we are matters to politicians and it shapes how they vote.

Some MSPs will not vote for Kate as First Minister, given what she has said.”It is also understood the Scottish Greens, who share power with the SNP, will quit the Government if Forbes is crowned leader.The failure of seven Green MSPs and six SNP members to back Forbes in a vote for First Minister would bring her total in any Holyrood vote to 58.If the pro-UK parties rallied around a candidate like Sarwar, they would have 57 votes - putting the result on a knife edge.Forbes’ opposition to same sex marriage cost her the support of early backers, including Ministers Tom Arthur, Claire Haughey and