An SNP Cabinet Secretary has accused leadership hopeful Kate Forbes of “trashing” the Government’s record and “undermining” the legacy of Nicola Sturgeon.
In an interview with the Record, Shona Robison said her criticisms of the Government she serves in would not sit well with members during the campaign.
She also called on Forbes to provide “full transparency” on her views on abortion and insisted women would be “really uncomfortable” with a First Minister who did not stand up for reproductive rights.
The three-way contest between Forbes, Health Secretary Yousaf and backbencher Ash Regan to succeed Nicola Sturgeon went nuclear last night following the first live TV debate.
In an astonishing attack on Yousaf - who has been dubbed the Nicola Sturgeon continuity candidate - Forbes blasted his record in office.
"You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we've got record high waiting times," she said.
She also appeared to have a dig at the record of Sturgeon’s Government by saying “more of the same” would be an acceptance of “mediocrity”.
Robison, a Yousaf backer and Sturgeon’s Social Justice Secretary, said of Forbes’ attack on the Health Secretary:
“Our party members and activists literally go on the doorsteps talking about our record, defending our record.
“We all have collective responsibility as a cabinet and I think we should expect a positive campaign around these issues.”
She also defended Sturgeon and deputy first minister John Swinney: “The record of electoral success based around the leadership that Nicola and John have provided would hardly be what it was if the public viewed it as mediocrity.
“If they thought that Nicola and John had been mediocre, and the record was mediocre, they wouldn't have voted for us.
“I just don't feel it will sit well with them [party members] and it will actually jar with them, any attempt to undermine that legacy.”
She added: “I think it's about the tone and when that steps in to what you could describe as a bit of a trashing of the collective record of the SNP government, [it] does not sit well with SNP members.”
Asked if she would have to think long and hard about serving in a Forbes Government, she replied: “Yes, I would.”
Robison also spoke about 150 women who have backed Yousaf and expressed deep concern at the prospect of a “roll back” on women’s reproductive rights.
Forbes, an evangelical Christian, once made a speech at a prayer breakfast in which she said politicians should recognise that the treatment of the “unborn” is a “measure of true progress”.
Her comments have led critics to believe she is personally pro-life on abortion.
Robison said: “We need to have a first minister and a leader who is going to stand by the gains on reproductive rights already made, but will stand shoulder to shoulder with women to avoid any erosion of those rights.
“It's not just about historic rights, it's about rights in the here and now. They are all of the view that Humza is the only candidate in this election who will be able to deliver that assurance.”
She added: “We need a first minister who's pro-choice. We need a first minister who will have women's backs around any attempt to roll back.”
Asked if Forbes should make her views on abortion absolutely clear, she said:
“Yes. It's about the position of the First Minister and the policies that they will pursue and the legislation that they will support or not support. I think full transparency around these issues is absolutely key.
“The first minister has a leadership role, and has to lead on all of these issues. It would strike me as being very difficult indeed if you had a first minister who not only didn't lead on those issues, but was fundamentally against the position on these issues.
“I think it would be difficult to have a First Minister whose views on social issues like that don't reflect the views of the parliament.”
She added: “Women would be really uncomfortable with any idea of the First Minister not standing up for those rights and potentially not supporting important enhancement of those rights like, for example, buffer zones and early medical abortion.”
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