The legal action brought against the Scottish Government by the estate of Alex Salmond is moving toward a court hearing, with a key deadline for submissions set for next month.
Paul McManus announced in February he will fund the action after the former SNP leader's widow Moira agreed to transfer the legal rights of the case.
A spokesman for the millionaire businessman told the Record the aim is to seek "damages from the Scottish Ministers arising from the unlawful handling of the complaints against the late Alex Salmond".
Case progressing in Court of Session
No date for a court hearing has been set, but a deadline of September 16 has been fixed for final adjustments to written pleadings, where each side "settles the detail of its case on record".
The former first minister was suing the government for misfeasance, a civil law term meaning the wrongful exercise of lawful authority, when he died in October 2024 while attending a conference in North Macedonia.
Salmond had already been awarded more than £500,000 in costs by the Scottish Government over the mishandling of harassment complaints against him.
McManus funding case to vindicate Salmond
A spokesman for McManus told the Record: "The action is proceeding in the Court of Session. It seeks damages from the Scottish Ministers arising from the unlawful handling of the complaints against the late Alex Salmond — the harassment procedure having already been reduced in the earlier judicial review as unlawful, procedurally unfair and tainted by apparent bias — and the events that followed, including the leak of August 2018."
"Following Alex Salmond's death, the right to pursue the claim was assigned to Paul McManus, who was formally sisted into the action as pursuer by the court in April 2026. He is funding and carrying the case forward with the aim of vindicating Mr Salmond's name."
"The case is currently at the written-pleadings (adjustment) stage, where each side settles the detail of its case on record. The written pleadings are still being finalised by both parties. We adjusted the case significantly compared to the Summons we inherited."
"The Defenders, the Scottish Ministers, are now considering our adjustments (intimated on July 8) and will adjust themselves before their deadline of September 16, after which the action moves toward a court hearing. No hearing or proof date has yet been fixed."
McManus denies politicised stunt
McManus, who plays drums for Scots rock legends Gun, has previously denied his involvement in the action is a politicised stunt designed to benefit Labour. In a social media post, he revealed he is currently bankrolling several other legal battles for everyday people.
McManus wrote: "I'm currently fully funding many other (non-political) cases of injustices including two wrongful employment dismissal allegation" "Best not go into how much I give to charities annually; that might send you and your cynicism completely over the edge. Best wishes."
The businessman, who also bankrolls Scottish non-league club Forth Wanderers, previously vowed to stand up to the Scottish Government on behalf of the late Salmond and the wider public, claiming the case needs the "transparency" that only a courtroom can provide.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on live litigation."
