Judges to rule on independence blogger and ex-labour leader’s case
Senior judges will consider whether a sheriff was wrong to rule against an independence blogger in his legal battle with ex-scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.
Judge Lord Malcolm fixed a date for proceedings to take place in the case for 24 March 2020 during a short hearing at the Court of Session yesterday.
Stuart Campbell, of Bath, Somerset, wants judges to overturn a decision made in April 2019 by Sheriff Nigel Ross QC at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Mr Campbell, who blogs as Wings Over Scotland, sued Ms Dugdale after she claimed in a newspaper column that he had sent “homophobic tweets”.
Mr Campbell says he isn’t homophobic and claims Ms Dugdale has defamed him and damaged his reputation.
Sheriff Ross ruled that Ms Dugdale was incorrect to imply that Mr Campbell is homophobic but concluded that her comments were protected under the principal of fair comment.
This ruling prompted Mr Campbell’s lawyers to appeal. Their appeal was initially due to proceed through the Sheriff Appeal Court.
However, the case was transferred to Scotland’s highest civil appeal court - the Inner House of the Court of Session.