Wings Over Scotland
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Wings Over Scotland
| favicon =
| logo =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| url = {{url|wingsoverscotland.com}}
| commercial = No
| type = Blog
| registration =
| author = Stuart Campbell
| editor = Stuart Campbell
| launch_date = 2011
| current_status = Active
}}
Wings Over Scotland is a pro-Scottish independence blog created and maintained by Scottish video game journalist Stuart Campbell. It was launched in November 2011 with the stated aim of providing a "fair and honest perspective on Scottish politics" with a pro-independence slant.
The blog is known for its challenge to traditional media and successful use of crowdfunding, along with its controversial reporting style described as "somewhere between Gonzo and WWE" by then-STV columnist Stephen Daisley.{{cite news|last=Daisley|first=Stephen|url=http://news.stv.tv/politics/279941-analysis-wings-over-scotland-and-changing-face-of-scottish-media/|title=Analysis: Wings over Scotland and changing face of Scottish media|publisher=STV News|date=20 June 2014|access-date=15 April 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402155651/http://news.stv.tv/politics/279941-analysis-wings-over-scotland-and-changing-face-of-scottish-media/|url-status=live}} Kevin McKenna of The Observer praised Campbell as someone who "doesn’t retreat and gets into fights with everyone", adding "Newspapers used to be like that too. I like his style",{{cite news |last=McKenna |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/30/more-power-glasgow-online-journalists-wings-over-scotland-bella-caledonia |title=More power to Glasgow's online journalists|work=The Observer |date=30 March 2014 |access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710143423/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/30/more-power-glasgow-online-journalists-wings-over-scotland-bella-caledonia|url-status=live}} whereas Daily Record editor Murray Foote, whose newspaper had been subject to considerable unfavourable scrutiny by the site,{{cite web | url=https://wingsoverscotland.com/setting-the-record-straight/ | title=Setting the Record straight | date=20 February 2015 }} called it "A world of conspiracy theories, hatred and paranoia", representing "a brand of nationalism that seeks to peddle falsehoods and unfounded allegations against anyone who isn't a believer. It is nasty, sewage politics that debases public life."{{cite news |last=Foote |first=Murray |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/record-view-wings-over-scotland-5232240 |title=Wings Over Scotland website fuels hatred and paranoia |date=25 February 2015 |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |access-date=18 July 2016|archive-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714221622/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/record-view-wings-over-scotland-5232240|url-status=live}} In October 2015, Scottish Labour's then-leader Kezia Dugdale told The Scotsman newspaper: "My dad will see something on Wings Over Scotland and post it. For him, it is as relevant a source as the Financial Times".{{cite news |last=Garavelli |first=Dani |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/kezia-dugdale-interview-i-just-have-my-gut-instinct-1-3926906|title=Kezia Dugdale interview: 'I just have my gut instinct' |date=24 October 2015 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=18 July 2016|archive-date=25 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525191041/http://www.scotsman.com/news/kezia-dugdale-interview-i-just-have-my-gut-instinct-1-3926906 |url-status=live}}
In April 2016, Wings attracted over 250,000 readers a month.{{cite journal |url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n08/peter-geoghegan/the-end-of-the-scottish-press |last=Geoghegan |first=Peter |title=The End of the Scottish Press? |date=21 April 2016 |journal=London Review of Books |volume=38 |issue=8 |access-date=18 July 2016 |archive-date=19 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719043855/http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n08/peter-geoghegan/the-end-of-the-scottish-press |url-status=live }} It has raised in excess of £850,000{{cite news |last=Kane |first=Pat |author-link=Pat Kane |url=http://www.thenational.scot/comment/pat-kane-our-thriving-new-media-landscape-needs-your-cash-to-keep-up-its-work.17814 |title=Pat Kane: Our thriving new media landscape needs your cash to keep up its work |date=2016-05-21 |newspaper=The National |place=Glasgow |issn=2057-231X |access-date=2016-07-18 |archive-date=2016-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625104327/http://www.thenational.scot/comment/pat-kane-our-thriving-new-media-landscape-needs-your-cash-to-keep-up-its-work.17814 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.scot/politics/15200898.wings-over-scotland-raises-140000-as-fundraising-target-is-smashed/ |title=Wings Over Scotland raises £140,000 as fundraising target is smashed |last=Morris |first=Bridget |date=4 June 2017 |newspaper=The National |place=Glasgow |issn=2057-231X |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913211738/https://www.thenational.scot/politics/15200898.wings-over-scotland-raises-140000-as-fundraising-target-is-smashed/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://wingsoverscotland.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/The-Final-Countdown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306090701/https://wingsoverscotland.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/The-Final-Countdown |archive-date=6 March 2018 |title=Wings Over Scotland: The Final Countdown |date=6 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://donorbox.org/last-call|title=Last Call | Wings Over Scotland (Powered by Donorbox)|website=donorbox.org}} since 2013 in a series of crowdfunding initiatives to fund its work.
History
Wings Over Scotland was founded in 2011 by Bath-based video game journalist Stuart Campbell. On The Scottish Independence Podcast in October 2013, he said he "got fed up of just shouting at the TV when Newsnight Scotland was on".{{cite web |url=http://www.spreaker.com/user/michaelgreenwell/scotindypod_20_rev_stu_campbell |title=ScotIndyPod 20: Rev. Stuart Campbell |last=Greenwell |first=Michael |year=2013 |publisher=Spreaker.com |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=23 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423210251/http://www.spreaker.com/user/michaelgreenwell/scotindypod_20_rev_stu_campbell |url-status=live}}
In August 2014, one month before the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, The Wee Blue Book, a 72-page book written by Campbell, was published. Within a month, the digital edition had been downloaded 550,000 times,{{cite news |url=http://news.vice.com/article/cybernat-campbell-the-blogger-trying-to-break-up-britain |title=Cybernat Campbell: The Blogger Trying to Break Up Britain |first=Ben |last=Bryant |work=Vice News |date=11 September 2014 |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117065532/https://news.vice.com/article/cybernat-campbell-the-blogger-trying-to-break-up-britain |url-status=live }} in addition to 300,000 printed copies being distributed across Scotland.{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Michael |url=http://www.thenational.scot/comment/michael-gray-corbyn-will-fail-for-same-reason-yes-did-not-win.7578 |title=Corbyn will fail for same reason Yes did not win |date=15 September 2015 |newspaper=The National |place=Glasgow |issn=2057-231X |access-date=18 July 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020120427/http://www.thenational.scot/comment/michael-gray-corbyn-will-fail-for-same-reason-yes-did-not-win.7578 |url-status=live}}
In August 2015, a Kidderminster woman was fined more than £320 after pleading guilty to shoplifting a pack of chocolate bars valued at 75p; in her plea of mitigation, she claimed that after her benefits were sanctioned, hunger had led her to steal.{{cite news |url=http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Reverend-Stuart-Campbell-raises-11k-woman-fined/story-27613189-detail/story.html |title=Reverend Stuart Campbell raises £11k for woman fined for stealing pack of Mars Bars |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=15 August 2015 |access-date=4 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817224629/http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Reverend-Stuart-Campbell-raises-11k-woman-fined/story-27613189-detail/story.html |archive-date=17 August 2015 |df=dmy-all}} Campbell saw the story online and set out to raise £500 on her behalf.{{cite magazine |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |date=17 August 2015 |title=Donations roll in as a woman with no money for food is fined £328 for shoplifting a Mars bar |magazine=New Statesman |place=London |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/08/donations-roll-woman-no-money-food-fined-328-shoplifting-mars-bar |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=22 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822164849/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/08/donations-roll-woman-no-money-food-fined-328-shoplifting-mars-bar}} Within the first day £12,000 had been donated.{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-17/campaign-raises-money-to-help-woman-fined-328-for-stealing-75p-pack-of-mar-bars/ |title=Campaign raises £13,000 for woman fined £328 over Mars bars theft |work=ITV News |date=17 August 2015 |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=31 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531044433/http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-17/campaign-raises-money-to-help-woman-fined-328-for-stealing-75p-pack-of-mar-bars/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/crowdfunding-raises-15k-for-starving-shoplifter |title=Crowdfunding raises £15k for starving shoplifter |first=Robert |last=Armour |work=Third Force News |date=18 August 2015 |access-date=4 May 2016 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629113145/http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/crowdfunding-raises-15k-for-starving-shoplifter |url-status=live }} In total, the appeal raised over £16,000 and attracted significant media coverage. The woman subsequently asked that the £500 be donated to two women's charities. The remainder was then donated to a number of Scottish anti-poverty charities.{{cite web |url=http://wingsoverscotland.com/what-you-did/ |title=What you did |publisher=Wings Over Scotland |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=18 July 2016 |archive-date=27 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727041150/http://wingsoverscotland.com/what-you-did/ |url-status=live}}
In October 2015, Campbell was fined £750 by the Electoral Commission for "failing to submit the necessary invoices and receipts after registering as an official yes campaigner during the independence referendum".{{cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/27/yes-campaign-blogger-wings-over-scotland-stuart-campbell-fined-spending |title=Watchdog fines pro-independence blogger Wings Over Scotland |date=27 October 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |language=en-GB |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224222753/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/27/yes-campaign-blogger-wings-over-scotland-stuart-campbell-fined-spending |url-status=live}}
In August 2017, Campbell was arrested, questioned and bailed on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications against an unnamed person.{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/22/wings-over-scotland-blogger-arrested-for-alleged-online-harassment |title=Wings over Scotland blogger arrested for alleged harassment |date=22 August 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |language=en-GB |access-date=27 September 2017 |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928060236/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/22/wings-over-scotland-blogger-arrested-for-alleged-online-harassment |url-status=live}} The Metropolitan Police announced at the beginning of November 2017 that after investigation Campbell had been cleared{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/01/wings-over-scotland-blogger-cleared-over-online-harassment-claims |title=Wings Over Scotland blogger cleared of online harassment |first=Severin |last=Carrell |date=1 November 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |language=en-GB |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913204726/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/01/wings-over-scotland-blogger-cleared-over-online-harassment-claims |url-status=live}} and released without charge. Campbell described the events as "an insane, ridiculous farce".{{cite news |last=McCafferty |first=Ross|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/wings-over-scotland-slams-farcical-arrest-1-4601973|title=Wings over Scotland slams 'farcical' arrest |date=1 November 2017 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=2 November 2017 |archive-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101160842/http://www.scotsman.com/news/wings-over-scotland-slams-farcical-arrest-1-4601973 |url-status=live}}
In July 2018, the Wings Over Scotland YouTube channel was shut down (along with that of another user, Peter Curran) after copyright complaints from the BBC about short clips from its news and current affairs programmes.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45030773 |title=BBC criticised over YouTube channel closure |work=BBC News |date=1 August 2018 |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913204725/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45030773 |url-status=live}} A few days later, following an intervention by Alex Salmond to the BBC's Director General, Tony Hall,{{cite news |url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/alex-salmond-hits-out-at-bbc-after-pro-scottish-independence-videos-taken-off-youtube-over-use-of-news-excerpts/ |title=Alex Salmond hits out at BBC after pro-Scottish independence videos taken off YouTube over use of news excerpts |first=Sam |last=Forsdick |date=2 August 2018 |work=Press Gazette |access-date=13 September 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913204720/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/alex-salmond-hits-out-at-bbc-after-pro-scottish-independence-videos-taken-off-youtube-over-use-of-news-excerpts/ |url-status=live}} the channel was reinstated{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16394675.wings-over-scotland-youtube-channel-reopens-as-bbc-reviews-copyright-enforcement/ |title=Wings over Scotland YouTube channel reopens as BBC reviews copyright enforcement |last=Williams |first=Martin |date=3 August 2018 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231805/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16394675.wings-over-scotland-youtube-channel-reopens-as-bbc-reviews-copyright-enforcement/ |url-status=live}} and the BBC announced a decision to review its copyright policies.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/bbc-review-youtube-policy-following-wings-over-scotland-row-1427331 |title=BBC to review YouTube policy following Wings Over Scotland row |date=2 August 2018 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=23 November 2021 |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123131613/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/bbc-review-youtube-policy-following-wings-over-scotland-row-1427331 |url-status=live}}
Campbell announced the effective closure of Wings on 12 May 2021, the day after fellow pro-independence blogger Craig Murray was sentenced to eight months in jail for contempt of court.{{cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/2221534/political-bloggers-craig-murray/ |title=What does jailing of Craig Murray and end of Wings Over Scotland mean for political bloggers? |first=Rachel |last=Amery |date=13 May 2021 |newspaper=The Courier |place=Dundee |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801012819/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/2221534/political-bloggers-craig-murray/ |url-status=live}} In a retrospective, the New Statesman said that the blog had "irrevocably transformed online politics in Britain".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2021/05/rise-and-fall-wings-over-scotland |title=The rise and fall of Wings over Scotland |last1=Hames |first1=Scott |last2=Hinde |first2=Dominic |date=18 May 2021 |magazine=New Statesman |place=London |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913211157/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2021/05/rise-and-fall-wings-over-scotland |url-status=live}} Launching a scathing attack at the SNP and the Scottish Greens, Campbell spoke of his frustration at Holyrood having a pro-independence majority after the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, "but no will to do anything with it". He also warned in his post: "We're entering a long period of darkness for the Yes movement. I hope we get through it."{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/wings-over-scotland-stuart-campbell-announces-end-of-controversial-independence-blog-3234586 |title='Wings is over': Stuart Campbell announces end of controversial independence blog |last=Marlborough |first=Conor |date=12 May 2021 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |accessdate=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913205452/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/wings-over-scotland-stuart-campbell-announces-end-of-controversial-independence-blog-3234586 |url-status=live}} Four months later, however, Campbell said the site would return if Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/ill-return-if-sturgeons-ousted-says-stuart-campbell-in-final-post-wqdg23kmt |title=I'll return if Sturgeon's ousted, says Stuart Campbell in 'final' post |last=Leask |first=David |date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=The Times |place=London |issn=0140-0460 |language=en-GB |access-date=24 March 2022 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=31 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031043536/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ill-return-if-sturgeons-ousted-says-stuart-campbell-in-final-post-wqdg23kmt |url-status=live}}
Campbell announced in September 2021 that he was turning Wings into a polling organisation, using the "Wings Fighting Fund" to do it.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19613477.wings-scotlands-stuart-cambpell-launches-final-fundraiser-blog-close/ |title=Wings over Scotland launches 'final fundraiser' as blog set to close |last=Young |first=Gregor |date=29 September 2021 |newspaper=The National |place=Glasgow |issn=2057-231X |access-date=26 March 2022|archive-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326144314/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19613477.wings-scotlands-stuart-cambpell-launches-final-fundraiser-blog-close/ |url-status=live}}
In November 2022 the site returned to regular posting.[https://wingsoverscotland.com/for-karen-and-james/ For Karen and James] Wing over Scotland
Controversies
=Alex Johnstone=
During the latter stages of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Campbell described Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone as a liar and "fat troughing scum", causing Johnstone to complain: "If describing an MSP as a 'fat, troughing scum' is your idea of a well-made argument or a clever way to debunk myths, then the standard of our national debate really has fallen into disrepair".{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13166108.Yes_campaign_distances_itself_from_controversial_website/ |title=Yes campaign distances itself from controversial website |first=Magnus |last=Gardham |date=19 June 2014 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=16 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716150106/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13166108.Yes_campaign_distances_itself_from_controversial_website/ |url-status=live}} Campbell stated that the comments were reported out of context and were an isolated instance, and that he would apologise when Johnstone apologised for his personal attack on pro-independence donors Chris and Colin Weir which had provoked Campbell's remarks.{{cite web |url=https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-missing-questions/ |title=The Missing Questions|last=Campbell |first=Stuart |date=19 June 2014 |work=Wings Over Scotland |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913210232/https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-missing-questions/ |url-status=live}}
=Defamation lawsuit=
In March 2017, Kezia Dugdale used her Daily Record column to allege{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/wings-over-scotland-demands-aps10k-over-kezia-dugdale-column-1449423|title=Wings Over Scotland demands £10k over Kezia Dugdale column |date=18 May 2017 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=13 September 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913214145/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/wings-over-scotland-demands-aps10k-over-kezia-dugdale-column-1449423 |url-status=live}} that Campbell had posted "homophobic tweets" involving the Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell and his father, MP David Mundell, who is gay.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/mundell-carson-lead-tory-charge-7910013 |title=Mundell and Carson lead Tory charge as Dumfries and Galloway bucks trend |first=Jackie |last=Grant |date=6 May 2016 |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624043218/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/mundell-carson-lead-tory-charge-7910013 |url-status=live}} Campbell's tweet read "Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality sooner". Campbell sued her for defamation, seeking damages of £25,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15428282.wings-over-scotland-increases-defamation-claim-against-kezia-dugdale-to-25000/ |title=Wings Over Scotland increases defamation claim against Kezia Dugdale to £25,000 |last=Hutcheon |first=Paul |date=23 July 2017 |newspaper=Sunday Herald |place=Glasgow |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=14 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814134304/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15428282.wings-over-scotland-increases-defamation-claim-against-kezia-dugdale-to-25000/ |url-status=live}} Campbell lost the case in April 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/cos-general-docs/pdf-docs-for-opinions/2019scedin32.pdf |title=Judgement details |publisher=www.scotcourts.gov.uk |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015710/https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/cos-general-docs/pdf-docs-for-opinions/2019scedin32.pdf |url-status=live }} with the Sheriff concluding that, while Campbell's comment was not homophobic and he was not a homophobe, Dugdale's remarks constituted fair comment and "were not motivated by malice, but by a genuine perception that the tweet represented an insult to homosexual people, and was homophobic".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.journalonline.co.uk/News/1027217.aspx |title=Fair comment defence saved erroneous "homophobic" Dugdale libel |magazine=The Journal Online |publisher=Law Society of Scotland |access-date=2021-09-13 |archive-date=2022-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801012824/https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/legal-news/ |url-status=live}} In his judgement, the Sheriff said he did not believe Campbell had suffered any hardship and had he been minded to award any damages the sum would have been £100{{Cite web |url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/cos-general-docs/pdf-docs-for-opinions/2019scedin32.pdf |author=Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders at Edinburgh |id=[2019] SC EDIN 32 |title=Judgment of Sheriff N A Ross in the cause Stuart Campbell (pursuer) against Kezia Dugdale (defender) |place=Edinburgh |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=2021-09-13 |archive-date=2021-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821062740/https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/cos-general-docs/pdf-docs-for-opinions/2019scedin32.pdf |url-status=live}} rather than the £25,000 sought by Campbell.
Campbell unsuccessfully appealed in May 2020, although the three appeal court judges again found that Dugdale's comments had been "a straightforward direct defamatory statement"{{cite web |url=https://wingsoverscotland.com/of-no-materiality/ |title=Of no materiality |publisher=Wings Over Scotland |date=2020-05-27 |accessdate=2022-08-01 |archive-date=2022-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104231843/https://wingsoverscotland.com/of-no-materiality/ |url-status=live }} and that "It is not now disputed that the article was, in its reference to the pursuer as homophobic, defamatory". The appeal court also increased the notional value of damages by 50 times, from £100 to £5000, but nevertheless upheld Dugdale's "fair comment" defence.{{cite news |title=Wings over Scotland blogger loses Kezia Dugdale 'homophobic tweet' appeal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52819373 |date=27 May 2020 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801012822/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-52819373 |url-status=live }} Reflecting on Campbell's comment and the court case in July 2021, David Mundell told the House of Commons: "I regard that as a victory, at least in Scotland, for those willing to stand up against homophobia, and I remain particularly grateful to Kez for her support".{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-07-01/debates/9FE4F519-0969-4CC3-9EC4-418BE9AC9B1D/PrideMonth|title=Pride Month - Thursday 1 July 2021 - Hansard - UK Parliament|website=hansard.parliament.uk|access-date=2021-09-13|archive-date=2021-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913205558/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-07-01/debates/9FE4F519-0969-4CC3-9EC4-418BE9AC9B1D/PrideMonth|url-status=live}}
=Twitter ban=
In December 2019, Wings Over Scotland's Twitter account was permanently suspended for alleged violations of the platform's rules against hateful conduct.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18108825.wings-scotland-permanently-banned-twitter-violations-hateful-conduct-policy/ |title=Wings Over Scotland permanently banned from Twitter for 'violations of Hateful Conduct Policy' |date=18 December 2019 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630085429/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18108825.wings-scotland-permanently-banned-twitter-violations-hateful-conduct-policy/ |url-status=live}} In May 2020, Twitter permanently suspended two more of Campbell's Twitter accounts, including his personal one, for alleged violations of the platform's rules. In response, Campbell denied having broken any of Twitter's rules and accused Twitter of ideologically-motivated censorship, calling the platform "an unaccountable and unelected foreign corporation serving the interests of a massive right-wing pharmacological lobby".{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/twitter-bans-stuart-campbells-wings-over-scotland-accounts-2846210 |title=Twitter bans Stuart Campbell's Wings Over Scotland accounts |last=Marlborough |first=Conor |date=7 May 2020 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913231530/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/twitter-bans-stuart-campbells-wings-over-scotland-accounts-2846210 |url-status=live}} A few days after Elon Musk bought the company in October 2022, the Wings Over Scotland account was reinstated, with the corporation saying it had not been in violation of the Twitter rules and apologising.{{cite web|url=https://wingsoverscotland.com/an-unfortunate-misunderstanding/|title=An unfortunate misunderstanding|last=Campbell|first=Stuart|date=8 November 2022|work=Wings Over Scotland}}