YouSaid · the spoken record

Kate Forbes

lines on the record: 33
first: 2021-05-21
most recent: 2021-05-21
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Well, Jamin Dokas Give Elshev Gemah, I don't know if you want me to do it in Gallic or in English right now, but I do better. Well, I would say in English, give us a say and believe in democracy.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I have done that. I once had a camera put in my face and asked to comment on a very difficult issue. I responded to their question, to the journalist question fully in Gaelic and left them somewhat stunned. So it has been a useful tool in the past.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Participating in debates in good faith and the way that we treat other people. You go on social media, you go my Facebook page, you go my Twitter feed, and you will see levels of vitriol that are just astounding. And politicians have to lead the way. So how I treat my Tory counterparts matters and sets a role model.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Think it will be a very different debate. I think my generation who were perhaps observers last time round now see independence as more normal. So you see that in the polling generational polling. There's a generation that have lived through perhaps seeing the SNP in power for the last 14 years going through the independence debate. I think it's a far more normal debate. So you're not trying to encourage people to even understand the concept you're now encouraging people to choose independence. So that I think will change the debate. I think the second thing, which is perhaps worse, is that Sydes are more entrenched. which might make it more difficult and therefore more incumbent on us to really be intentional about making it a respectful debate.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Would say that that uncertainty and economic damage is being inflicted on Scotland as we speak and we can either Spirit, or”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Two reasons one, this is no longer a question between the status quo and change, changes all around us. Brexit has delivered change. Brexit has erected more than 20 new borders. Brexit means that my fishermen in my constituency are struggling to sell and to export. Ultimately, we are faced with what we believe is the solution to that change. And I think that whatever we argue for, the union has to be refreshed if that is going to be what the unionists advocate. I, of course, would advocate for more powers to be closer to the people. So that would be my first point. And secondly, there's huge opportunities. There's huge opportunities. Everybody's talking about building back better. We believe in changing Scotland. Do I believe that that change would be better? Realized if powers were closer to the people, yes.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“But once the crisis has passed, we have lived and breathed the COVID response for the last year and we need to keep managing that. So that is the number one priority right now to get the country back up and running. But there is a question about what kind of recovery we want. Now, I've had to manage the finances over the last year. And it's been hugely frustrating at times to get on and do things when much we can't borrow. So all additional funding comes from Westminster. I don't want it necessarily to be like that, which is why I made proposals early on for minor extra borrowing powers to do things differently. But for as long as we are dependent, and that is an engineered dependency on the UK government, we actually can't build, create, drive the recovery that we necessarily want to see.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Definitely think that people need to be informed before they go to vote and I think that that work will be done before people go to vote. Interestingly, I think it needs to be done by all sides because here I am defending independence ultimately in the last few years I think there's a case now to defend the union and I am not hearing that case. All I am hearing is note another independence referendum presumably because there's a fear of it being lost.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It's definitely hopefully part of my job, I would have thought. And there are conclusive answers to all of those. But we had the Sustainable Growth Commission published a research document two years ago. Every country is now refreshing their economic prospectus because we talked at length about notional deficits in the last few years. Every country is running a substantially higher deficit than they ever thought possible and how we manage that in a sustainable way is really important.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Offensive insults when it comes to debating the matters at stake. And I think that's true of both sides. There wasn't a politician in the land in the most recent election who wasn't advocating for change, whether it's build back better, whether it's recover, whatever it is, politicians are advocating for change because people want change and it's incumbent on everybody to present the proposals for change.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Can I suggest three things? The first is that we actually have to have that debate. So there will be some that say that it's the S&P that's creating the conditions for that debate by calling for another independence referendum. You go out into any community and I guarantee you will find that is not accurate because that debate is happening in Scotland irrespective of the parties. And I think the recent election demonstrates that you cannot dispute that the SNP have once again got the biggest number of seats and that debate is happening. And I think there needs to be an outlook for people to express their views. The second thing is that it does start at the top, but it can't just stay at the top. So the way that we debate one another, it really matters. And the third point is that we have got to move beyond just rhetoric or a”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Think the last few months in particular of the last parliament were very, very difficult and very painful. But you're speaking to somebody who's on the other side. So those who disagree with me may call out my side. I look at my Twitter timeline and the levels of vitriol abuse creative insults are such that I cannot actually read it. I think the problem is not by any means monopolized by one side. And my job is to try and others' job is to try and break that mold. So I would like to think if you asked a single politician on the opposite benches in the Scottish Parliament, whether they respect me, they may disagree with me, and whether I can build relationships with them, all of them to a person would say, Yes. So it starts with us, not just calling out vitriol, but it starts with us doing things differently.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Think from the very beginning, I have weighed up questions of compromise. So wherever you live, wherever you work, you have to confront questions of compromise. And I think the question for Tim Farron was, what is one compromise too big? And that is true for all of us. Actually, it's not just true for people of faith, but I get it on the faith side. And that is something that I will continue to weigh up. Now, I think it's really important that we still respect, for example, matters of conscience. And actually, within political parties, there is a lot of diversity of views and debates and perspectives.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“actually think the problem's deeper than that. I think on every issue we have lost the ability to debate the issue without hating the person. So when I got involved in politics for the first time, I was stunned that people couldn't disagree or agree with my views at arm's length, but still get on with me as a human being and see me as a human being. Now, whatever issue you pick, it might be matters of equality, it might be matters of the constitution. It might be anything in between. We have lost the ability to debate well, to debate in an informed fashion that recognises there is an intelligent human being and their arguments need to be backed up by substance.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Debate has, I think, become very deeply entrenched on both sides, causing a lot of pain on both sides. And my intention is not to see anybody in pain, but as legislators, we have to get... Legislation”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think there's two issues. So there's the legislation that was being consulted on at the time. Now, that hasn't been laid. There was another consultation and that was going to propose some changes, some process changes to how to change your gender formally. There's a much bigger debate in society, however, that's not legislative in nature. And I think where I was coming from was around how we make sure that some of the changes that are made, whether that's at school level or a local authority level or a national level are properly consulted on whether it's with parents or otherwise. And changes of this magnitude should be made with as much consultation as possible. Now, since then,”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I've not made much of it, but if I go back to 18 months ago when a lot of people were asking who I was, who I am, nearly every interviewer honed in on my faith. It was one of the first questions they asked me about. So there's obviously a lot of interest in it, irrespective of whether I raise it or not, it comes out. I've not tried to hide it. Neither have I tried to force it into the conversation.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think that's true. I think that people tick toe around the issues and I'm as guilty of that as anybody of tiptoeing around my faith and what it means for me. I honestly believe that as politicians, we should be able to represent people irrespective of whether we've walked in their shoes or completely understand where they're coming from. So I represent I represent ex-prisoners. I've never been in prison. And I think that doesn't stop me from being able to represent them. And when it comes to my faith, I think there's sometimes a fear and a sense that the public will think we only speak for our own rather than speak for everybody.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I mean, to be straight, I believe in the person of Jesus Christ. 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 neighbors with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. So that for me is essential to my being. And politics will pass. I am a person before I was a politician and that person is continue to believe that I am made in the image of God.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“My faith about who I am, about my background is really important. I'm a woman. I can't take that part away from me. I'm also a Christian. I can't take that part away from me.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Don't think any of us in politics are ultimately private citizens, so we bring everything into the job with us. And I think it's ludicrous to suggest otherwise. I studied history. The first thing you're taught is that every historian has some form of bias or prejudice and they filter what they write through that. So I don't think any politician is an island. They are informed and influenced by their upbringing, their experiences, their gifts, etc. And the same with me. I do, however, recognize my responsibility to represent all my constituents. And some of them will agree with my politics, others will disagree. Some will agree with my faith, others will disagree. I have a duty to represent them. But neither do I want to deceive my constituents. And I think being straight with them about”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Certainly, a sense of duty and responsibility. I was training as a chartered accountant. I was working for a bank at the time and I had kept my finger in sort of politics and an opportunity came to stand. And part of it was thinking I've debated, I've argued, I've lamented and if the opportunity comes up, you should jolly well get involved rather than carping from the sidelines.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I can't speak for my dad, but that's what he would say in a single word, that it was a sense of calling to serve. And his calling to serve was not about getting kudos or getting credit. And he worked alongside a lot of people who would make the same argument, a lot of Indian healthcare professionals who could come to Scotland or the UK and earn huge salaries but had chosen to give their lives to their fellow citizens in India. And you do have to ask why and for them it was that sense of calling because they believed in a higher purpose.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The answer in my family was always duty and responsibility that you have been given much and much is expected of you when it comes to serving other people. So it wasn't any sense of entitlement or any sense that we had the answers. It was just a sense in which my dad had been asked to help and he'd stepped forward to help. And that's certainly my philosophy. It's my personality wrapped up in one that rather than sort of seeking political purposes or living by a particular ideology, you've got a duty and responsibility to help your fellow citizens. It doesn't matter what country they're in.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“We weren't in so many words, but you have to ask yourself why, I, aged ten, with standing in a playground getting my education and another child aged 10 was standing in that same playground carrying bricks to construct part of the school. Why did I get access to education? And they didn't. And so even age 10, you see the injustice of that and it does prompt you to ask why.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, we lived in that environment because my father at the time was working with some very sacrificial Indian doctors and nurses who were trying to provide free healthcare to people in India, particularly people in slums, and who couldn't afford healthcare. And I guess that prompts huge questions. So why in Scotland do I have free access to healthcare, for example, and my child being ill doesn't plunge me into never-ending poverty in Scotland? Why do I get to go to school for free? Why do I get access to particular levels of support in Scotland? Essentially a welfare state. Why?”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Can't hate it, it's everywhere. And I didn't need anybody to give me a briefing on poverty. We lived in the midst of it. So my parents very strongly believed in living with people, not living in a westernized ghetto, but living with the people that they were working with. And although we went to an international school in the latter half of the time we were there for my education, we went to a local Indian school, we walked past tarpaulin shacks on a daily basis under which a family with six kids lived. We saw it and I”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Aged 15 returning from India to a normal state school in Glasgow, it certainly hit home. I had a vague American accent having gone to an international school for a few years after going to an Indian school and had no idea what was in the charts, what people were watching on TV but I could talk to you about monkeys and about snakes at the bottom of the garden.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That's right. So we grew up in a very strange world dependent on other people's support and generosity for which we are still very grateful. But there was a lot of black bin bags full of other people's clothes and borrowed homes and borrowed cars in those years.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And my dad is my inspiration, and he did age 29 actually, so funny that we were the same age. He turned his back on fairly promising career in finance and went to India to work for no pay, no security, eventually took my mum and then took me aged six weeks old to India and raised me and my siblings there on and off over the next 15 years. And he did it because he felt that sense of duty and responsibility and because of his faith. And it certainly wasn't for money or fame.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I was 29 at the time, so snuck in just before my 30th birthday, which is something that I am quite proud of. But I do think since then, I wake up very early when I am anxious at all. And there's much to be anxious about these days when it comes to our finances. So I'm not disputing that it has an impact on my personal life. But I really can't stress enough that having lived through the last year hearing the worries and frustrations of multiple small businesses, for example, that's what keeps me up. That's what makes me anxious because there's so many jobs at stake. And as a local representative, as much as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, people come to you in fear and worry. And, you know, that is a heavy burden to bear.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Know, I feel like I haven't stopped since that moment. I haven't had a moment to reflect, really. I don't have anxiety dreams because since then the challenges have actually only got bigger. If you think that waking up to hear you're having to deliver the budget in a matter of hours is a big deal, it paled into insignificance a few weeks after that when we went into lockdown. And I was responsible for the finances of one of the biggest economic crises that have hit this country. So actually, it's been challenge after challenge since that phone call.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It is baths. I'm not sure if it's commiserations or congratulations. I think throughout the election campaign every party bar none put economic recovery front and centre. And that is now my job. So no pressure, but I'm looking forward to working on a cross-sector, even a cross party basis, dare I say it, to try and drive that economic recovery.”
2021-05-21 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Kate Forbes One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source