Disgraced Tory peer released from prison

Lord Archer, the disgraced former chairman of the Conservative Party who was convicted of lying to a jury in 2001, has been released from prison today.

The Parole Board ruled last month that Archer had met conditions for an early release and could be released from Hollesley Bay Prison in Suffolk.

In a statement, Archer said: "I want to thank my wife Mary and my sons, William and James, for their unwavering and unstinting support during this unhappy period in my life.

"I should also like to thank the many friends who took the trouble to visit me in prison, as well as countless members of the public who sent letters, cards and gifts."

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

It is unclear what lies ahead for the troubled Tory peer, but his wife Mary has revealed that her husband has been interested in the rebuilding of Iraq and may become involved with that following his release.

However, whether he remains eligible to sit in the House of Lords remains to be seen, as the government considers proposals to disqualify peers from taking up their seat if they have served more than one year in prison.

But 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 in jail, 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.

(GMcG)