A SCOTTISH Greens co-leader has suggested the “extreme” influence of Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes could lead to a watered-down ban on conversion therapy.
Patrick Harvie said “concerns remain” about the “extreme social conservative positions” Forbes has voiced over the years, adding that conversion therapy would be a “really critical test” of whether the Scottish Government “can be trusted” on equality.
In an interview with The Scotsman, Harvie also warned the Greens’ backing the SNP Budget was not a forgone conclusion ahead of the party’s conference this weekend.
The Greens will be going into the conference as an opposition party after former first minister Humza Yousaf threw out the Bute House Agreement, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Harvie, who was furious at the decision, said the response to being turfed out of government was not “driven by an emotional reaction”.
The Greens are one of one two parties, along with the Scottish LibDems, who could realistically support the Scottish Government Budget for it to pass.
The party has previously raised concerns about Forbes' social views including her opposition to equal marriage.
When asked over her views on LGBT rights when she returned to the Government, Forbes did not explicitly state she supported improved rights, instead saying she will support the Scottish Government’s agenda to “improve and progress the rights of all of Scotland's communities”.
Harvie told the paper he had concerns over how her views may impact on plans for a conversion therapy ban.
“John Swinney appointed someone as Deputy First Minister, someone who had very recently come out with extreme social conservative positions as well as some fairly clear conservative economic positions, that again was a serious cause for concern. Those concerns remain,” he said.
The First Minister did not include a promised bill for a full ban on conversion therapy in his first Programme for Government last month, but has stressed the plans will be moved forward in co-operation with the UK Government which has committed to a similar agenda.
Harvie said: “The conversion therapy position is going to be a really critical test of whether the government’s commitment to equality can really still be trusted by the people whose lives are more affected by those kinds of decisions.
“What we’ve seen is someone who has sat in Cabinet and signed off the gender recognition reform bill then eventually said they wouldn’t have voted for it. Now if you sit in Cabinet and you sign off a bill that you don’t support, there’s one very principled decision that you can take in that scenario and she didn’t.
“So they are now saying that they still support the conversion practices ban and a full comprehensive ban.
“I think we should introduce that bill at Holyrood. If the UK bill then comes forward that means it’s going to do the same thing, then okay, fair enough.
“But there’s a very, very strong likelihood, given the state of the Labour Party on some of these issues, that they will come up with some kind of fudge that tries to play to both sides.”
Reports have suggested Forbes signed off the now defunct gender recognition reforms bill as a member of Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet, but more recently stated she would have voted against the legislation if she had not been on maternity leave.
Harvie suggested his party backing the SNP budget is dependent on the Scottish Government recapturing some of the priorities taken forward during the Bute House Agreement and warned against backing the SNP’s spending plans that committed to expanding road capacity on routes such as the A9 or A96.
Harvie said: “Where it’s about expanding capacity, that’s only going to drive up more demand and lock in higher levels of pollution. That’s not something that we can support.
“There are some really important tests for them. Are they still committed to that as a principle or are they going all Fergus Ewing on us.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is committed to ending conversion practices in Scotland which aim to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are damaging and destructive acts that violate people’s human rights.
“We are engaging constructively with the UK government as we work to end these harmful practices.
"It is right that we fully explore a cross-government, cross-party approach. At the same time work is ongoing so that legislation can be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in the event that a UK-wide approach is not achievable.”
