I have followed with interest the court case involving Tommy Sheridan against the News of the World and for all intents and purposes I cannot help but think that in pursuing the action he has committed political suicide. Colleague after colleague has spoken against his case and each time he gets further into conspirational theories that, like most of them do, stagger the mind.

Now that isn't to say I necessarily think he is guilty but it is a simple fact that you cannot stand against so many witnesses and win your case *unless* you have more than simply your word against their word.

And what will it cost Tommy if he does lose? His political career might be the least of his worries as his wife accompanies him each day to court and hears the case against him. At the end of it all, will he look back with regret at his decision to sue the paper, if indeed he had any choice but to if domestic pressure was of the effect, 'win this or we're finished?'.

It's a sensitive subject for me... when do you let your principles go for the sake of damage limitation by those who would bring about your downfall? Or do you fight and fight and fight regardless of personal cost to yourself and those around you?

Whatever the result of the case I think that Tommy Sheridan is a loss to British politics and most assuredly to the SSP that I now think will disappear into a void for a time before trying to reinvent itself.

Such a shame.