Cancel culture row over Kate Forbes Fringe event

Kate Forbes appeared at the Hearld's Unspun event at the Fringe last week

An Edinburgh arts venue has indicated Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will not be invited back to speak at future events because of opposition to her views on trans rights.

Ms Forbes, a devout Christian, was interviewed last Thursday at the Summerhall venue as part of the Herald newspaper's series of events at the Fringe festival.

The venue has now said the booking was "an oversight" and it would be reviewing its policies to ensure the "safety and wellbeing" of performers it works with.

Forbes said that attempts to "cancel" people because of their beliefs "undermines democracy".

Summerhall is a venue with lots of different facilities, some of which are used by artists as studio space.

The First Minister, John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and pollster Sir John Curtice have also been interviewed at the Herald's Unspun events.

The Fringe event passed off without incident, but BBC Scotland understands a number of Summerhall users strongly object to the deputy first minister's views on gender.

Forbes is not facing any sort of ban from entering the building which includes a theatre and café, but a similar event featuring her would be unlikely to go ahead.

In a statement, the Summerhall venue said: "This event was booked as a series of longform interviews prior to the guest list being confirmed.

"Summerhall Arts primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of the artists and performers we work with, and going forward we will be developing robust, proactive inclusion and wellbeing policies that would prevent this oversight in our bookings process happening again."

The story was first reported by the Scottish Daily Mail, who suggested the MSP might be banned from the venue.

Forbes has come under fire in the past for her views on gay marriage, abortion and trans rights.

During the 2023 SNP leadership election, when she ran against Humza Yousaf, she was criticised after telling Sky News that having children outside of marriage was "wrong" according to her faith as a member of the Free Church of Scotland.

'Freedom of speech'

Following Summerhall's statement, Forbes said: "'As I stated at the event, I fervently believe in freedom of speech. Any effort to 'cancel' people, especially politicians, undermines democracy.

"Many people attended the Herald event and it is important that we could freely discuss and debate matters in a respectful manner.

"I respect and acknowledge the fact that in a liberal democracy there are people who will agree with me and others who will disagree with me.

"That is all the more reason to create events where the audience and journalists can question politicians openly, as the Herald did."

Finance Secretary Shona Robison - who was previously deputy first minister - has defended her cabinet colleague.

She told BBC Scotland News that Summerhall's reaction was "unwise and unnecessary".

Ms Robison said that Kate Forbes "should be able to go to venues and give her views".

Forbes announced last week that she does not intend to seek re-election at next year's Holyrood election as she wants to devote more time to raising her young daughter.