Tommy Sheridan makes first political appearance since release from jail

FORMER Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan was back on the campaign trail yesterday for his first election day since his release from jail in January.

• The co-convenor of Solidarity, spent election day campaigning for his wife Gail who was standing for election in the Cardonald and Craigton ward of the city.

• He and his wife went out to vote together at a polling station at Cardonald parish church

He said: “We had a positive response from voters and at times I was quite overwhelmed by well wishers. Even people from other parties were very pleasant to me.

“It was a nice day to be out campaigning because of the nice weather, but the warmth I felt didn’t just come from the sun as people were just very friendly to me.

“There are about 13 polling stations in the ward Gail’s standing in, but I spent the day at the one at Cardonald parish church, which is nearest to our home.”

Sheridan was released from jail after serving one year of a three-year jail term for perjury, following a high-profile legal battle with News International amid allegations about his private life.

The left winger’s time in jail meant that he missed the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011.