Tommy Sheridan found guilty of perjury [Updated Bump]

LondonRoad · 28-01-2009, 07:35

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news...or_perjury.php

I don't know quite what to make of this. I do suspect if was somebody other than Tommy Sheridan there wouldn't have been the vast amount of money thrown at this investigation. Are the establishment so scared of this guy because of his left wing views.

28-01-2009, 07:59

I personally think more public figures should be held accountable, I know nothing of this case but if he has been found lying in court then he should face the music.

LondonRoad · 28-01-2009, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

I personally think more public figures should be held accountable, I know nothing of this case but if he has been found lying in court then he should face the music.

Well he hasn't been found lying in court yet. He is pleading not guilty.

The police have spent over a year at a cost of over Ã‚Â£1million. It smells more of vendetta to me. That's an awful lot of money that would, imho, been better spent.

**Chris** · 28-01-2009, 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmitage

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news...or_perjury.php

I don't know quite what to make of this. I do suspect if was somebody other than Tommy Sheridan there wouldn't have been the vast amount of money thrown at this investigation. Are the establishment so scared of this guy because of his left wing views.

The Socialists wiped themselves out at the last Holyrood elections by indulging in a good old fashioned leftie schism. Actually it was the whole question of whether or not Sheridan was lying about the Manchester sex club that caused it. Several of them went into the witness box to say it was true, others insisted it was false. The libel jury found it was false. Sheridan then left the SSP and formed a rival party. Neither party scored any seats in the subsequent election, which takes some doing under the proportional system used here.

To cut to the quick: I don't think the 'Establishment' - whatever that's supposed to be - has anything to fear from Tommy Sheridan or any of the other clowns he used to associate with.

LondonRoad · 28-01-2009, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The Socialists wiped themselves out at the last Holyrood elections by indulging in a good old fashioned leftie schism. Actually it was the whole question of whether or not Sheridan was lying about the Manchester sex club that caused it. Several of them went into the witness box to say it was true, others insisted it was false. The libel jury found it was false. Sheridan then left the SSP and formed a rival party. Neither party scored any seats in the subsequent election, which takes some doing under the proportional system used here.

To cut to the quick: I don't think the 'Establishment' - whatever that's supposed to be - has anything to fear from Tommy Sheridan or any of the other clowns he used to associate with.

That's a fair summary of the background, although I didn't realise they were part of a circus too.

I so think there does seem to be an element of vendetta in this. I'm not defending Sheridan, I think he's an opportunist, but we are talking here about a possible perjury in civil action, it's not cash for questions, or honours or illegal donation or misappropriation of public funds. In fact Ã‚Â£1million for the enquiry (so far) has already topped the cash for honours enquiry.

**Chris** · 28-01-2009, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmitage

That's a fair summary of the background, although I didn't realise they were part of a circus too.

Didn't you? You must have missed Colin Fox launching their 2005 election campaign in Argyle Street, dressed as Robin Hood. I've been looking for a photo but Google has let me down. This one will have to do:

This was the SSP 'demonstrating' about the effectiveness of the Parliament that they were, at the time, members of. Fox is on the right.

Their antics are in the main less sophisticated than the sorts of stunts my students' union used to pull.

Osem · 29-01-2009, 07:54

Do you reckon his recent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother was some form of training undertaken in view of the possibility that he might just get himself banged up?...

29-01-2009, 15:22

Sheridan is nothing to fear and while i agree i that the money could have been better spent why would anyone bother trying to fit him up he is a nobody really and certainly not a threat that has to be dealt with. Seems more like the usual "lets waste some money because we can" then anything else.

Osem · 29-01-2009, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Sheridan is nothing to fear and while i agree i that the money could have been better spent why would anyone bother trying to fit him up he is a nobody really and certainly not a threat that has to be dealt with. Seems more like the usual "lets waste some money because we can" then anything else.

Correction: Let's waste some 'taxpayers' money.......

piggy · 29-01-2009, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Sheridan is nothing to fear and while i agree i that the money could have been better spent why would anyone bother trying to fit him up he is a nobody really and certainly not a threat that has to be dealt with. Seems more like the usual "lets waste some money because we can" then anything else.

its all opinions but i followed this case first time around and imo he is guilty and he is going down, so let the jury decide i say.

---------- Post added at 17:45 ---------- Previous post was at 17:43 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Correction: Let's waste some 'taxpayers' money.......

a former mp charged with perjury, its hardly a waste (imo)

Osem · 29-01-2009, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggy

its all opinions but i followed this case first time around and imo he is guilty and he is going down, so let the jury decide i say.

---------- Post added at 17:45 ---------- Previous post was at 17:43 ----------

a former mp charged with perjury, its hardly a waste (imo)

I didn't say him being charged with perjury is a waste of time - I simpy made the point that it's taxpayers money and that might just be why they don't mind throwing it about whether it's perjury trials or saving dodgy banks.

piggy · 29-01-2009, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

I didn't say him being charged with perjury is a waste of time - I simpy made the point that it's taxpayers money and that might just be why they don't mind throwing it about whether it's perjury trials or saving dodgy banks.

if he is found guilty he will need a dodgy bank to bail him out with his costs and the newspapers

Osem · 29-01-2009, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by piggy

if he is found guilty he will need a dodgy bank to bail him out with his costs and the newspapers

Very probably

I wonder if he's polishing his "simple sword of truth and trusty shield of traditional British fair play....."

29-01-2009, 17:06

More to the point do any of us really care what happens to this complete non entity i know i don't.

**Chris** · 29-01-2009, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

More to the point do any of us really care what happens to this complete non entity i know i don't.

Yes - a lot of people in Scotland do care what happens to him. He may only have entered the UK-wide public consciousness by going on Big Brother, but he was an MSP for eight years here. Prior to that, and since, he's a fairly regular talking head on political programming. His trial is a significant event.