Damages claim against Kezia Dugdale under way

A defamation claim brought by Wings Over Scotland blogger Stuart Campbell against the former Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, began in Edinburgh yesterday.

Lawyers for Mr Campbell argued that Dugdale defamed him by describing a tweet he wrote as “homophobic”. He is seeking £25,000 damages.

In a tweet about Tory MSP Oliver Mundell, the son of openly gay Scottish Secretary David Mundell, Mr Campbell wrote: “Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality earlier”.

Craig Sandison QC, for Mr Campbell said Ms Dugdale’s comments in the Daily Record were “false and defamatory”.

Ms Dugdale’s lawyer, Aidan O’neill QC, said his client did not call Campbell a homophobe and asked Sheriff Kenneth Mcgowan to dismiss the action. Sheriff Mcgowan has reserved judgment.