Scotland's finance secretary admits to 'tiptoeing around' her Christian faith

 (Photo: Scottish Parliament)

Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes has spoken of "tiptoeing around" around her Christian faith. 

Ms Forbes attends the Free Church of Scotland, which adheres to a biblical view of marriage. 

She told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast that her Christian faith was "essential" to her being, and that she felt called to love and serve Jesus.

She added, though, that MPs should be representative of their constituents, and she admitted to being "as guilty as anybody of tiptoeing around" her Christian beliefs.

Explaining why this was the case, she spoke of a "fear and a sense that the public will think we only speak for our own rather than speak for everybody".

"To be straight, I believe in the person of Jesus Christ," she said. 

"I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love him and to serve and love my neighbours with all my heart and soul and mind and strength.

"So that for me is essential to my being. Politics will pass - I am a person before I was a politician and that person will continue to believe that I am made in the image of God."

She went on to say that it was important to be open about her faith with constituents. 

"Some of them will agree with my politics, others will disagree. Some will agree with my faith, others will disagree," she said.

"I have a duty to represent them, but neither do I want to deceive my constituents and I think being straight with them about my faith, about who I am, about my background is really important."

News
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame
Over 320,000 people sign petition opposing Macron's '21st century mark' on Notre-Dame

Over 323,000 people have signed a petition in opposition to new stained-glass window designs for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God
Nicki Minaj says she has rekindled her relationship with God

Rapper Nicki Minaj opened up about her recently reignited relationship with God and what inspired her to speak out for persecuted Christians, suggesting that her rise in the music industry made it more challenging to maintain the spirituality of her youth. 

Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events
Legal action launched challenge to civil service participation in LGBT Pride events

The Christian Institute has initiated legal proceedings against Keir Starmer in a bid to end civil service participation in controversial Pride marches. 

National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches
National Lottery Heritage Fund awards £7.3m to historic churches

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £7.3 million to help maintain four historic churches.