Coulson to appear in court at perjury trial

David Cameron's director of communications Andy Coulson is to appear at Glasgow High Court next week to give evidence in the perjury case of former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan.

The former News of the World editor will be called by the defence on Wednesday or Thursday to answer questions in connection with the publication of sex allegations which led to Mr Sheridan successfully suing the tabloid in 2006. The private investigator Glen Mulcaire is expected to be cited the following week. Mr Mulcaire was jailed along with the newspaper's royal editor, Clive Goodman, for phone hacking in 2007, which prompted Mr Coulson's resignation as editor.

Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Williams, who investigated the affair on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, will also appear.

Mr Sheridan is defending himself in the trial. He and his wife, Gail, who is also charged with lying under oath during the defamation case, deny the charges.