Tommy Sheridan trial: Witness denies plot allegations

Sheridan, who is representing himself in the case and cross-examining witnesses while standing in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow, is accused of perjury along with his wife Gail.

Yesterday Joanna Harvie, who joined the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) when it was formed, said the politician told an emergency meeting of the group's executive committee on November 9 2004 that he had visited a sex club.

Sheridan and his wife, both 46, from Glasgow, are accused of lying under oath during his successful 2006 defamation action against the News of the World. They deny the allegations against them.

The politician, who was a former contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, won 200,000 in damages after the newspaper printed allegations about his private life.

Sheridan continued the cross-examination of Ms Harvie today.

During questioning, Ms Harvie told Sheridan: "I was never involved in any faction, in any plot that was out to get you."

Sheridan said to Ms Harvie: "You were always part of the plot to politically do me in?"

Ms Harvie, 33, said: "No, I was not."

She also said she was not part of the "secret cabal" which became the United Left and the "anti-Tommy" faction.

She told the court she had heard Sheridan admit to a meeting that he had visited a sex club twice.

Ms Harvie said she did not lie when she gave evidence to the defamation case which Sheridan won in 2006 and was not lying today.

Ms Harvey was also asked by Sheridan if she remembered anything else being discussed during the meeting on November 9 2004.

She told the court: "I do remember a gun being mentioned and having absolutely no idea what was being spoken about."

She said there was a "very confusing exchange" at the meeting between a man she called Keith Baldassara and Sheridan when the gun was mentioned.

She was also asked by Sheridan if she remembered any mention of a "Glasgow hotel orgy".

Ms Harvie said: "I can't remember specific talk of that."

She told the court that minutes from the November 9 meeting of the executive committee were ratified at a meeting of the committee on November 24.

She also told the court that a "strategy" suggesting the minutes of the November 9 meeting should not be given to the court for Sheridan's 2006 defamation case was put forward at a SSP national council meeting in May 2006.

Speaking about the national council meeting on May 28 where the motion was put forward, Ms Harvie said: "That was a horrendous meeting. It was an absolute cauldron. There was shouting and screaming and stamping of feet.

"In the end there was a vote and the vote did not go in favour of that strategy."

Ms Harvie said the strategy was about keeping the party "separate" from Sheridan's defamation court case in 2006.

Ms Harvie, who also told the court she was the editor of a publication called The Voice, said it had not been a "tool" of any faction.