Sheridan quizzed in perjury probe

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A spokesman for Lothian and Border Police confirmed a 43-year-old man was being quizzed by officers in Edinburgh.

He said: "The man has been detained and is being interviewed in respect of an ongoing investigation into allegations of perjury."

Sherdian, who left the Scottish Socialists to set up his own party Solidarity, was awarded £200,000 damages following a defamation case against the News of the World newspaper last year.

The perjury claims follow Mr Sheridan's case against the Sunday tabloid at the Court of Session in August 2006

At the time a jury of six men and five women dismissed the paper's claims the Socialist MSP was a serial adulterer and swinger who used drugs.

The 23-day trial, in which several members of the Scottish Socialist Party gave evidence against Mr Sheridan, led to a split, with Mr Sheridan later establishing the rival party Solidarity.

Neither he nor his former colleagues were returned to Holyrood in the May 2007 elections.

Before the jury retired to consider its verdict, Lord Turnbull said the conflicting evidence given to the court may have meant some people had been perjuring themselves - an offence which could lead to a prison sentence.

Prosecution authorities later instructed the police to investigate allegations of perjury by witnesses during the trial.