FORMER socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan is to have his perjury conviction reviewed.

Mr Sheridan was jailed in 2011 after he was found guilty of lying under oath during his successful defamation action against the now-defunct News of the World (NotW) newspaper.

The ex-politician has always maintained his innocence and lodged an application to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) in June, which confirmed it will review his conviction.

The NotW reported Mr Sheridan had visited a swingers’ club and cheated on his wife Gail in 2004 when he was an MSP representing the Scottish Socialist Party. He was initially awarded £200,00 in damages but ended up on trial for perjury.

Mr Sheridan, 50, said: “It has taken a frustratingly long time to progress but at last the SCCRC has the files and my appeal against conviction has been assessed and considered worthy of more detailed analysis.

“I am absolutely confident my unsafe conviction will eventually be quashed and my name will be cleared.”