TOMMY Sheridan is to attempt to make a political comeback at next year's Holyrood elections.
The former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) convenor, who was an MSP between 1999 and 2007, has been selected as the top candidate on the Glasgow list for Solidarity.
The party was formed by Mr Sheridan in 2006 following his split from the SSP over his handling of tabloid claims that he was an adulterer who visited a swingers' club. The reports began an episode which eventually led to Mr Sheridan's conviction for perjury in 2010.
Mr Sheridan is urging support for the SNP in the constituency vote, while backing Solidarity on the party list vote. It plans to campaign on an "unequivocal pro-independence, anti-austerity and socialist platform," calling for another independence referendum by 2018.
Mr Sheridan said: "We recognise the SNP is not a socialist party but they are the only pro-independence option in the constituency section of next year's vote. We are calling on voters to support the SNP with their first vote but to maximise the pro-independence candidates by voting Solidarity with their second list vote. Given the nature of the Holyrood electoral system and the fact the SNP will win all or most constituency seats a second vote for SNP will help the unionist parties not the independence cause."
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