Wings Over Scotland

Wings Over Scotland is a pro-Scottish independence blog 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.

Wings Over Scotland
Type of site
Blog
Created byStuart Campbell
EditorStuart Campbell
Revenue£700,000[1]
URLwingsoverscotland.com
CommercialNo
Launched2011
Current statusActive

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.[2] 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",[3] whereas Daily Record editor Murray Foote, whose newspaper had been subject to considerable unfavourable scrutiny by the site,[4] 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."[5] 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".[6]

In April 2016, Wings attracted over 250,000 readers a month.[7] It has raised in excess of £850,000[8][9][10][11] since 2013 in a series of crowdfunding initiatives to fund its work.[1]

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".[12]

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,[13] in addition to 300,000 printed copies being distributed across Scotland.[14]

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.[15] Campbell saw the story online and set out to raise £500 on her behalf.[16] Within the first day £12,000 had been donated.[17][18] 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.[19]

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".[1]

In August 2017, Campbell was arrested, questioned and bailed on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications against an unnamed person.[20] The Metropolitan Police announced at the beginning of November 2017 that after investigation Campbell had been cleared[21] and released without charge. Campbell described the events as "an insane, ridiculous farce".[22]

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.[23] A few days later, following an intervention by Alex Salmond to the BBC's Director General, Tony Hall,[24] the channel was reinstated[25] and the BBC announced a decision to review its copyright policies.[26]

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.[27] In a retrospective, the New Statesman said that the blog had "irrevocably transformed online politics in Britain".[28] 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."[29] Four months later, however, Campbell said the site would return if Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister.[30]

Campbell announced in September 2021 that he was turning Wings into a polling organisation, using the "Wings Fighting Fund" to do it.[31]

In November 2022 the site returned to regular posting.[32]

Controversies

Hillsborough disaster

Comments made by Campbell on the blog in 2012 relating to the Hillsborough disaster caused controversy[33] by suggesting that Liverpool F.C. fans "were to blame because they, alone, were the ones who pushed and thereby caused the crush". Later Campbell said: "I stand absolutely by the stuff that I've written about Hillsborough".[34]

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".[35] 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.[36]

Defamation lawsuit

In March 2017, Kezia Dugdale used her Daily Record column to allege[37] that Campbell had posted "homophobic tweets" involving the Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell and his father, MP David Mundell, who is gay.[38] 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.[39] Campbell lost the case in April 2019,[40] 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".[41] 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[42] 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"[43] 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.[44] 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.[45]

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.[46] 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".[47] 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.[48]

References
  1. Carrell, Severin (27 October 2015). "Watchdog fines pro-independence blogger Wings Over Scotland". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  2. Daisley, Stephen (20 June 2014). "Analysis: Wings over Scotland and changing face of Scottish media". STV News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  3. McKenna, Kevin (30 March 2014). "More power to Glasgow's online journalists". The Observer. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  4. "Setting the Record straight". 20 February 2015.
  5. Foote, Murray (25 February 2015). "Wings Over Scotland website fuels hatred and paranoia". Daily Record. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  6. Garavelli, Dani (24 October 2015). "Kezia Dugdale interview: 'I just have my gut instinct'". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  7. Geoghegan, Peter (21 April 2016). "The End of the Scottish Press?". London Review of Books. 38 (8). Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  8. Kane, Pat (21 May 2016). "Pat Kane: Our thriving new media landscape needs your cash to keep up its work". The National. Glasgow. ISSN 2057-231X. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  9. Morris, Bridget (4 June 2017). "Wings Over Scotland raises £140,000 as fundraising target is smashed". The National. Glasgow. ISSN 2057-231X. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  10. "Wings Over Scotland: The Final Countdown". 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018.
  11. "Last Call | Wings Over Scotland (Powered by Donorbox)". donorbox.org.
  12. Greenwell, Michael (2013). "ScotIndyPod 20: Rev. Stuart Campbell". Spreaker.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  13. Bryant, Ben (11 September 2014). "Cybernat Campbell: The Blogger Trying to Break Up Britain". Vice News. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  14. Gray, Michael (15 September 2015). "Corbyn will fail for same reason Yes did not win". The National. Glasgow. ISSN 2057-231X. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  15. "Reverend Stuart Campbell raises £11k for woman fined for stealing pack of Mars Bars". Western Daily Press. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  16. Chakelian, Anoosh (17 August 2015). "Donations roll in as a woman with no money for food is fined £328 for shoplifting a Mars bar". New Statesman. London. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  17. "Campaign raises £13,000 for woman fined £328 over Mars bars theft". ITV News. 17 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  18. Armour, Robert (18 August 2015). "Crowdfunding raises £15k for starving shoplifter". Third Force News. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  19. "What you did". Wings Over Scotland. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  20. Carrell, Severin (22 August 2017). "Wings over Scotland blogger arrested for alleged harassment". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  21. Carrell, Severin (1 November 2017). "Wings Over Scotland blogger cleared of online harassment". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  22. McCafferty, Ross (1 November 2017). "Wings over Scotland slams 'farcical' arrest". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  23. "BBC criticised over YouTube channel closure". BBC News. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  24. Forsdick, Sam (2 August 2018). "Alex Salmond hits out at BBC after pro-Scottish independence videos taken off YouTube over use of news excerpts". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  25. Williams, Martin (3 August 2018). "Wings over Scotland YouTube channel reopens as BBC reviews copyright enforcement". The Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  26. "BBC to review YouTube policy following Wings Over Scotland row". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 2 August 2018. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  27. Amery, Rachel (13 May 2021). "What does jailing of Craig Murray and end of Wings Over Scotland mean for political bloggers?". The Courier. Dundee. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  28. Hames, Scott; Hinde, Dominic (18 May 2021). "The rise and fall of Wings over Scotland". New Statesman. London. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  29. Marlborough, Conor (12 May 2021). "'Wings is over': Stuart Campbell announces end of controversial independence blog". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  30. Leask, David (26 September 2021). "I'll return if Sturgeon's ousted, says Stuart Campbell in 'final' post". The Times. London. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  31. Young, Gregor (29 September 2021). "Wings over Scotland launches 'final fundraiser' as blog set to close". The National. Glasgow. ISSN 2057-231X. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  32. For Karen and James Wing over Scotland
  33. "Wings Over Scotland blogger blames Liverpool fans for Hillsborough tragedy". Daily Record. Glasgow. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  34. Hutcheon, Paul (20 July 2014). "'The bottom line is I don't particularly care if people don't want to be associated with us'". The Sunday Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  35. Gardham, Magnus (19 June 2014). "Yes campaign distances itself from controversial website". The Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  36. Campbell, Stuart (19 June 2014). "The Missing Questions". Wings Over Scotland. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  37. "Wings Over Scotland demands £10k over Kezia Dugdale column". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  38. Grant, Jackie (6 May 2016). "Mundell and Carson lead Tory charge as Dumfries and Galloway bucks trend". Daily Record. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  39. Hutcheon, Paul (23 July 2017). "Wings Over Scotland increases defamation claim against Kezia Dugdale to £25,000". Sunday Herald. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  40. "Judgement details" (PDF). www.scotcourts.gov.uk. 16 April 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. "Fair comment defence saved erroneous "homophobic" Dugdale libel". The Journal Online. Law Society of Scotland. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  42. Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders at Edinburgh (16 April 2019). "Judgment of Sheriff N A Ross in the cause Stuart Campbell (pursuer) against Kezia Dugdale (defender)" (PDF). Edinburgh. [2019] SC EDIN 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  43. "Of no materiality". Wings Over Scotland. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  44. "Wings over Scotland blogger loses Kezia Dugdale 'homophobic tweet' appeal". BBC News. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  45. "Pride Month - Thursday 1 July 2021 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  46. "Wings Over Scotland permanently banned from Twitter for 'violations of Hateful Conduct Policy'". The Herald. Glasgow. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  47. Marlborough, Conor (7 May 2020). "Twitter bans Stuart Campbell's Wings Over Scotland accounts". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  48. Campbell, Stuart (8 November 2022). "An unfortunate misunderstanding". Wings Over Scotland.
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