I should preface what I'm about to say by stating that I disagree with just about everything Kate Forbes said at the start of this week. I do believe that the GRR bill is fatally flawed, but that's a matter of detail rather than intention. (I do also think, though am not certain, that the UK government it legally in the right with their challenge, but that's another matter.) However, I'm inclined to the view that legislating for equal marriage was one of the very few good things that David Cameron actually did in office, and that the corresponding law in Scotland was equally good. And so on and so forth.
However, the treatment that has been meted out to Kate Forbes as a result of that has been disgraceful. And make no mistake, despite John Swinney's claims to the contrary it was entirely about her Christian beliefs - if Forbes wasn't the candidate then none of this would even have been raised, and the media simply wouldn't dare to grill Humza Yousaf over his Muslim faith in anything like the same terms as they've handled Forbes.
The upshot of all of that is this: there is now, I have no doubt, significant pressure being applied to Kate Forbes to 'persuade' her to drop out of the race. I have no doubt that there is equally significant pressure being applied to those who might back her to withdraw their nominations.
But here's the thing: If Kate Forbes is forced out of the race due to her Christian beliefs, the SNP will never again see another vote from me.
If she stands and loses, then that's absolutely fine - that's democracy in action. But she needs to be allowed to stand.
And that goes for voting for independence, too. I want no part of a modern, tolerant, inclusive Scotland in which every religious minority is welcome, except one. And where we only throw Christians to metaphorical lions.
