THE Scottish Secretary has agreed to appear in court as a witness for Kezia Dugdale in her defence of a legal action brought by a Nationalist blogger.
David Mundell has also provided a written statement for the former Scottish Labour leader, who is being sued for £25,000 in a defamation suit over alleged homophobia.
The gay Tory MP confirmed his willingness to appear on the same day that Labour MSPs argued over whether the party should resume funding Ms Dugdale’s case.
One left-wing MSP appeared to slam the table at the meeting at Holyrood before dashing out.
Stuart Campbell, who runs the Wings Over Scotland website, launched a legal action against Ms Dugdale last year.
She had accused him in a newspaper of making a homophobic remark about Mr Mundell, something Mr Campbell strongly denies.
Referring to Mr Mundell’s son, the Tory MSP Oliver Mundell, Mr Campbell wrote: “Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality sooner.”
Mr Campbell, 50, is influential in the Yes movement, despite living in Bath most of his life.
Mr Mundell senior, who announced he was gay in 2016, condemned his remark at the time.
He retweeted it with the comment: “Nicola Sturgeon asks ‘What kind of country do we want to live in?’ My answer: not one where homophobia is acceptable.”
Ms Dugdale’s case has plunged Scottish Labour into turmoil, pitting those who supported and opposed Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader against each other once more.
Ms Dugdale, who opposed Mr Corbyn becoming leader, says the UK Labour party previously agreed to pay all her all legal bills, whatever the outcome of the case.
However last month, new general secretary Jennie Formby, one of Mr Corbyn’s strongest supporters, announced the party had turned off its funding, after the bill reached £95,000.
Ms Dugdale’s moderate supporters say the decision is motivated by political spite against and want it reversed, while others on the Left back the decision, saying the money would be better spent on campaigning.
Although the Daily Record is now providing Ms Dugdale’s immediate legal support, it is understood she remains liable for Mr Campbell’s damages and costs if she loses.
The Lothians list MSP is currently appealing a sheriff’s decision to move to a full evidential hearing in the matter.
At the Tory conference in Birmingham, Mr Mundell told the BBC he would support Ms Dugdale in court if there was indeed an evidential hearing, and that he had also supplied a written statement.
It is understood the statement re-states his original negative view of Mr Campbell’s tweet.
At Holyrood, the weekly meeting of Labour’s Holyrood group ran on for more than hour as MSPs debated the party’s withdrawal of legal funding for Ms Dugdale.
Many MSPs are unhappy at the decisions, and at Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard’s perceived failure to stand up to party HQ on the issue.
However the meeting was inconclusive, with no clear decision on whether to back a reversal or not.
“There’s no white smoke,” said one of those present.
Left-wing MSP Elaine Smith was seen apparently thumping the table toward the end of the meeting, before being the first to leave, followed closely by fellow left-winger Neil Findlay.
Both are aligned to the Campaign for Socialism, which backs Labour HQ’s decision.
Ms Dugdale refused to comment, saying: “Group meetings are private.”
Asked why Ms Smith thumped the table, a Labour press officer sighed: “Who knows?”
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