The legal battle between Kezia Dugdale and Wings Over Scotland blogger Stuart Campbell is scheduled to start tomorrow.
Dugdale, the former leader of the Scottish Labour party, faces a defamation action after she said the Bath-based blogger was homophobic.
Her accusation came following a tweet from Campbell about Tory MSP Oliver Mundell, whose father David Mundell came out as gay in 2016.
He wrote: “Oliver Mundell is the sort of public speaker that makes you wish his dad had embraced his homosexuality sooner."
Campbell sued Dugdale for £25,000 damages last year.
A preliminary hearing has already concluded that the case will begin with legal debate between the lawyers from each side. It is not expected that Dugdale or Campbell will be called as witnesses this week.
Sheriff McGowan, who will be presiding over the case, could throw the action out, or move to an evidential hearing.
The defamation action is scheduled for two days of debate at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
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