Like one of his book characters, the disgraced peer has always found a way of slugging out the tough times and emerging relatively unscathed. The court will now have to decide whether the politician has always confined his creativity to his novels. As it emerges that the former Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party faces perjury charges, ITN looks back over his colourful career. The millionaire British novelist has been charged with five separate counts over his 1987 libel trial. If found guilty he could go to jail.
Perjury carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.
The novelist has been bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates' on October 3. Police had been investigating whether Archer attempted to influence witnesses in the trial. Lord Archer, who was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, was arrested in April over allegations that he attempted to pervert the course of justice. A spokeswoman at Archer's office said he had made no comment on the charges and was not expected to issue one. Like one of his book characters, the controversial peer has always found a way of slugging out the tough times and emerging relatively unscathed.