WINGS Over Scotland has launched a crowdfunding appeal to pay for legal action against Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

The pro-independence website announced the fundraiser after a survey of readers on how best to fund a defamation case.

The action centres on Dugdale’s claim that a tweet by the site’s founder Stuart Campbell – about MSP Oliver Mundell, the son of Scottish Secretary David Mundell – was homophobic.

Campbell initially declared he would sue for £10,000 in damages, but increased this to £25,000, after Dugdale repeated the claim in the Scottish Parliament during First Minister’s Questions in May.

The contentious tweet, posted during the Conservative Party conference in March, said: “Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality sooner.”

Dugdale denounced it as homophobic in a newspaper column and repeated her position in May, stating: “I stand firmly by my comments. I’ve never kowtowed to a bully and I will not start today.”

Campbell has said that he “absolutely and categorically rejects” accusations of homophobia. After an offer to settle out of court, which he says was ignored by Dugdale, he yesterday confirmed the launch of a crowdfunding appeal to support legal action.

In a statement posted to the Wings site, he said: “If we win, it may set a precedent that makes Unionist politicians and newspapers at least pause for thought the next time they want to demonise independence supporters with outrageous and disgusting falsehoods.”