People Versus Carmichael campaign launches second crowdfunding push ahead of September hearing

The People Versus Alistair Carmichael campaign has launched a second crowdfunding bid ahead of next month’s hearing in the case against the Northern Isles MP.

The extra funding, say the campaigners, is needed to ensure that the petitioners are protected financially as the case continues, with costs likely to escalate.

They want the General Election result in Orkney and Shetland overturned after Mr Carmichael, who was Scottish Secretary at the time, admitted he was responsible for a leaked memo regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s conversation with the French Ambassador to the UK.

The leak led to a Daily Telegraph article claiming that Scotland’s First Minister told the ambassador she would have preferred that David Cameron remain in Downing Street. Mr Carmichael denied any knowledge of the leak until after the election.

He later admitted that the account of the conversation in the leaked memo was incorrect.

In a letter to the First Minister regarding the memo, Mr Carmichael said: “I accept its publication was a serious breach of protocol and that the details of that account are not correct.”

The legal case claims that Mr Carmichael’s re-election contravened the Representation of the People Act 1983 because voters were unaware of his involvement in the pre-election leak as he had denied any knowledge of it.

It is being pursued by four Orkney constituents — Timothy Morrison, Euphemie Matheson, Fiona Grahame and Carolyn Welling.

However, Mr Carmichael claims there was no breach of section 106 of the Act, as set out by the petition, and also that he “did not make a false statement of fact in relation to the personal character of conduct of a candidate, before or during an election, for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate at the election.”

The second fundraising push follows on from the £61,448 donated online in June.

A campaign spokesman said: “The nature of this action is that not all costs can be predicted and as it has not been done before and as the case develops potential cost liabilities have to be kept under review.

“Legal debate became a sensible step prior to trial, but the realistic costs for our side are increasing to take the action to court in September. However, we can assure everyone that we are doing all we can, as are the legal team, to keep costs down.”

He added that all unused funds will go to Scottish food bank charities.

The case was called at the Court of Session in July and a hearing set for September 7 and 8, in Edinburgh.