DEFIANT former MSP Tommy Sheridan vowed to launch a new High Court appeal exposing "lies and damned lies" against him, as a gagging order was lifted two hours before he was released from prison.

The 47-year-old ex-Scottish Socialist leader left Castle Huntly prison, near Dundee, yesterday morning after serving just one-third of his three-year sentence for perjury.

He was met by his wife Gail and received hugs from his daughter Gabrielle as he arrived at his home in Cardonald, Glasgow.

The politician and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant was jailed on January 26 last year for committing perjury during his successful defamation action in 2006 against the News of the World (NOTW), which shut in July after the phone hacking scandal.

Standing in front of his gate with an arm around his wife, as cheering supporters behind him in his garden prepared for a celebration party, he pledged to fight his conviction in the courts and said he hoped to take an active part in the campaign for Scottish independence.

Earlier, his legal team claimed a condition banning him from speaking to the media, described as a "draconian attack on his free speech", had been removed from his terms of release.

Sheridan believes clear proof or admissions of criminal misconduct by the NOTW when it was investigating his private life would have influenced the jury, particularly over claims of illegally hacking his phone.

Looking visibly thinner than before his imprisonment and dressed in a navy-blue sweater, pale-blue shirt and jeans, he announced: "We will continue to fight to clear my name."

He said: "We are determined to highlight the contrasts in treatment between the 20-plus News of the World former journalists, I've lost count, who have been arrested for illegal activities (and myself). I've not read of any of them who had their homes raided over a mammoth nine-hour search or their children traumatised in the interests in justice.

"Well, I have news for them and for others. This fight is far from over and this story has not yet finished.

"I believe I will return to Glasgow High Court within the near future but not as an accused, but as an accuser of witnesses at my trial for the lies and damned lies they gave in the course of the evidence that was given that allowed a narrow conviction to be passed on December 23 of last year.

"We are confident that, once the lies of those perjurers are highlighted, we will have a very strong appeal that will hopefully lead to the quashing of my unfair, unsafe and unsound conviction."

Sheridan's solicitor Aamer Anwar and Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, have handed over files to Strathclyde Police.

The force is investigating potential data protection breaches in connection with the phone-hacking scandal, which it is claimed will provide information that will form the basis for a fresh appeal.

Sheridan has always claimed there were doubts about the accuracy of testimony given by News of the World executives and Andy Coulson, the former NOTW editor and former head of communications for David Cameron at the time of the trial.

Mr Coulson was among those arrested over the alleged hacking inquiry and a parallel investigation into illegal payments to police officers.

In the Sheridan trial, Mr Coulson denied on oath having any knowledge of payments to police or of hacking.

Mr Anwar indicated there was a possibility of civil action in relation to phone hacking.

He also said he would be demanding answers through Freedom of Information about what advice the Scottish Prison Service was given to propose a condition that Sheridan should not be able to speak to the media on his release.

Sheridan paid tribute to the "thousands of ordinary folk across Scotland and further afield" who had taken the time to write and contact him through Facebook "to show their solidarity with me and my family over this difficult 12 months".

He added: "It is a relief to be able to speak personally for once. It seems a while now since I have been able to speak. It's always been through my good friend and excellent lawyer Aamer Anwar.

"It is a delight to be back home with my beautiful wife, whom I love dearly, and my daughter Gabrielle, who I have missed beyond words are able to describe.

"Up until a couple of hours ago I didn't know I was going to be able to speak, because up until a couple of hours ago I was still gagged.

"Unfortunately, although I am not to be gagged today, I will be tagged today."

The Scottish Prison Service said it would not comment on the conditions of release for individual prisoners.