Mr Sheridan was charged by Lothian and Borders Police on Sunday evening, after being held for nearly eight hours in Gayfield Square police station, Edinburgh.

At his home in Glasgow, officers were removing items.

The 23-day defamation hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, in which several members of the Scottish Socialist Party gave evidence against Sheridan, led to a split, with the SSP founder later establishing the rival party Solidarity.

He sensationally sacked his legal team during the proceedings, handling the action against the newspaper himself.

He won £200,000 in damages over allegations centered around orgies, and visits to swingers' clubs. The newspaper launched an appeal, meaning the money has not been paid to Sheridan.

The criminal investigation began after judge, Lord Turnbull said that conflicting accounts heard in court could mean that some witnesses may have perjured themselves.

Mr Sheridan, 43, had just finished his Citizen Tommy chat show on Sunday and was leaving the talk107 building on Edinburgh’s South Gyle Crescent at around 1.10pm when a white unmarked police Mercedes pulled into the car park at speed, coming to a halt directly in front of his Honda car.

The former MSP was allowed to collect an item from his car before being driven away with officers flanking him in the back seat.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a 43-year-old was arrested, cautioned, charged with perjury and released.

The force confirmed: “Inquiries are continuing in respect of others and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

A spokesman for Solidarity, the party he founded along with fellow former Scottish Socialist Rosemary Byrne, declared its “100 per cent support” for Mr Sheridan.

Returning home from his legal meeting yesterday Mr Sheridan would only say: “I have been told not to say anything for the time being. I am keeping schtum.”