A case over comments Andy Wightman MSP made about Wildcat Haven Enterprises is set to go to court later this year

A defamation case led by a conservation group against a politician is set to proceed.

Scottish Greens MSP and land reformer Andy Wightman has been crowdfunding to help pay the costs of an impending legal battle.

Wightman is being sued for £750,000 by community interest company Wildcat Haven Enterprises over two blog posts he wrote in 2015 and 2016.

The politician has raised almost £80,000 of the estimated £120,000 he will need to fight the case, with the action due to be heard in October.

The MSP has said losing the case could force him into bankruptcy, potentially costing him the seat at Holyrood he won in 2016.

Wightman recently tweeted: “Unless I can find the funds to defend myself I will be declared bankrupt owing £750,000 for something I deny I ever did.”

The content of Wightman’s blogs cannot be published for legal reasons.