Patrick Harvie criticises Kate Forbes at FMQs

Patrick Harvie has said Scotland risks returning to the “repressive values of the 1950s” with the appointment of Kate Forbes as deputy first minister.

Speaking at John Swinney’s inaugural First Minister’s Questions, the Green co-leader urged the new first minister to give a signal of what direction his new government would take.

Mr Harvie said: “Yesterday that signal came pretty clearly – progressive ministers sacked, and the second most powerful job in government given to someone who has opposed LGBT people’s legal equality, who has expressed judgemental attitudes against abortion, and who has even expressed the view that people who have families without being married are doing something wrong.”

He asked: “Is this the Scottish government’s vision for the future of Scotland – taking us back to the repressive values of the 1950s?”

Mr Swinney defended his deputy and insisted the minority SNP government would be a “moderate left of centre” administration.

Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland who has been criticised for her socially conservative views, returned to government as his deputy, as well as cabinet secretary for the economy and Gaelic.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ms Forbes said: “I am here to support the first minister and together we serve all communities in Scotland as we further and progress the rights of every community in Scotland, and I look forward to doing my part in achieving the government’s aims in that regard.”