A Funny Old Business
Politics is a funny old business.
Who would have thought that Tommy Sheridan - a Scottish socialist firebrand - would have ended up the same way as Jeffrey Archer - one of Margaret Thatcher's loyal Tory lieutenants.
But that's what has happened - as the former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) leader faces the prospect of a hefty prison sentence in the New Year - having been found guilty of perjury by a panel of his peers.
And the reality is that Tommy Sheridan brough the roof down upon his own head.
By foolishly suing the News of the World for libel damages - when the crux of the paper's reports were in fact true - if presented in its usual salacious manner.
The only alternative to a guilty verdict was to accept Tommy's incredible defence - that he was a victim in all of this - not the motive force, brought down ultimately by his own actions.
For Tommy's defence to succeed the jury would have had to conclude that there was indeed a major conspiracy at work - based on an unlikely coalition involving the bulk of the SSP leadership, Lothian & Borders Police and the News of the World.
A lot of time, effort and public money has been wasted on getting to the truth - it has to be said.
But it also has to be said that none of this would ever have happened - if Tommy had kept his own giant ego under control.
Who would have thought that Tommy Sheridan - a Scottish socialist firebrand - would have ended up the same way as Jeffrey Archer - one of Margaret Thatcher's loyal Tory lieutenants.
But that's what has happened - as the former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) leader faces the prospect of a hefty prison sentence in the New Year - having been found guilty of perjury by a panel of his peers.
And the reality is that Tommy Sheridan brough the roof down upon his own head.
By foolishly suing the News of the World for libel damages - when the crux of the paper's reports were in fact true - if presented in its usual salacious manner.
The only alternative to a guilty verdict was to accept Tommy's incredible defence - that he was a victim in all of this - not the motive force, brought down ultimately by his own actions.
For Tommy's defence to succeed the jury would have had to conclude that there was indeed a major conspiracy at work - based on an unlikely coalition involving the bulk of the SSP leadership, Lothian & Borders Police and the News of the World.
A lot of time, effort and public money has been wasted on getting to the truth - it has to be said.
But it also has to be said that none of this would ever have happened - if Tommy had kept his own giant ego under control.
