Iain Macwhirter Iain Macwhirter

Has the SNP really turned its back on identity politics?

John Swinney and Kate Forbes (Credit: Getty images)

The term ‘progressive’ has been much abused in the past decade. Originally a term denoting enlightenment and social universalism, it became synonymous with the tribalism of identity politics and unenlightened transgender ideology. But perhaps this new ‘woke’ variant of progressivism has had its day. At any rate, change is in the air in Scotland. 

The chaotic disintegration of the Green-SNP alliance has left the bien pensant radicals in Scotland in poor shape. That ‘progressive coalition’ has been replaced with a small ‘c’ conservative alliance between John Swinney, a middle-aged white male if ever there was one, and Kate Forbes, his new deputy – who is unapologetic about her faith-based views on key LGBT issues like gay marriage. 

The Scottish government’s lurch to the centre right has cause mild panic on the green left

Forbes is a member of the ultra-conservative Free Church of Scotland, often called the ‘Wee Frees’ by its critics. Last year, she famously declared that she would not have voted for same sex marriage had she been an MSP when the bill was passed by Holyrood, nor did she approve of having children out of wedlock.

Written by
Iain Macwhirter

Iain Macwhirter is a former BBC TV presenter and was political commentator for The Herald between 1999 and 2022. He is an author of Road to Referendum and Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum but Lost Scotland.

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