SCOTLAND: The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) has backed the 11 members who gave evidence against their former leader, Tommy Sheridan, in his defamation case against the News of the World.
Mr Sheridan (42) was awarded £200,000 (€296,000) after winning his action against the tabloid over allegations he cheated on his wife Gail and took part in orgies.
During the lengthy legal case, 11 members of the SSP were called as witnesses by the paper. They told the jury that Mr Sheridan had admitted attending the Cupids "swingers" club in Manchester at an emergency meeting of the party's executive committee in 2004. Those who testified that Mr Sheridan had made such an admission included the party's current leader Colin Fox and two of its MSPs, Carolyn Leckie and Rosie Kane.
However Mr Sheridan denied that and claimed there was a political faction in the SSP that was out to discredit him.
He called witnesses who testified that at the meeting he had vehemently denied visiting the sex club.
The Glasgow MSP claimed he was the victim of "the mother of all stitch-ups".
Members of the party's executive committee yesterday met in Glasgow City Chambers and agreed a motion backing those who had given evidence for the paper.