Coulson pledges fight against perjury charge

David Cameron’s former communications chief was charged by Strathclyde Police on Wednesday night over allegations that he committed perjury during the trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan.

A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal who will then decide if the 44-year-old ex-News of the World editor will face court proceedings.

In a statement yesterday, his solicitor Jo Rickards of law firm DLA Piper said: “Andy Coulson will vigorously contest the perjury allegations made against him yesterday by Strathclyde Police, should they ever result in a trial. We have no further comment at this stage.”

Mr Coulson was detained at his London home early on Wednesday morning and taken to Glasgow for six hours of questioning at Govan police station. Strathclyde Police then announced that he had been arrested and charged with perjury.

A Crown Office spokesman said there was no legal obligation for him to stay in Scotland, and that he was free to return to his home in London. No date has been set for any court appearance.

Mr Coulson gave evidence at Sheridan’s perjury trial at the High Court in Glasgow in December 2010, while he was employed by 10 Downing Street as director of communications.

At the trial, he claimed he had no knowledge of illegal activities by reporters while editor of the paper that was suddenly closed by Rupert Murdoch last year.