18/06/2003

Archer to be released next month

Lord Archer, the disgraced former chairman of the Conservative Party who was convicted of lying to a jury in 2001, has been told that he can leave prison on July 19.

The Parole Board today ruled that Archer met conditions for an early release and would be released from Hollesey Bay Prison in Suffolk next month.

Jeffrey Archer was jailed for four years for perjury after it was established in court that he had falsified an alibi during his libel trial against the Daily Star in 1987.

Despite his incarceration, Archer has still attracted headlines. In February this year, he lunched with a prison officer and a policeman while on day release. The Lincolnshire constabulary police officer was investigated but continued service with the force, but the prison officer later resigned.

Archer has also written two books whilst incarcerated, the fictional novel 'Sons of Fortune' and a book of his experiences after his conviction, 'A Prison Dairy' – both of which made the bestseller lists.

Archer, who was campaigning to become Lord Mayor of London when his friend Ted Francis blew the whistle on the libel alibi, has seen off controversy before. In the 1970s he had to resign his parliamentary seat after being declared bankrupt. But he turned his hand to writing and earned millions from his novels – four of his bestsellers have sold more than 120 million copies.

His wife Mary has stood by him throughout, and in an interview with Radio 4 last month she claimed that the Tory peer had been "unfairly and ridiculously vilified" by the media.

Lady Archer added that her husband was interested in the rebuilding of Iraq and may become involved with that on his release.

(GMcG)

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