He has always been the outsider of Scottish politics. But yesterday, for the first time in 15 years, Tommy Sheridan reconciled himself to time away from the fray of elected life, even if only for the foreseeable future.

In gestation for just eight months, the Solidarity party he founded and spearheaded proved unable to breach parliament. Now, it can count upon a solitary Glasgow councillor for democratic representation.

With the SSP also cast out into the electoral wilderness, the socialist voice in Scotland is all but extinguished.

For Mr Sheridan's part, yesterday brought no admission of defeat, but rather a characteristic lash of indignation. "Thursday was an electoral farce, a travesty for democracy, and it has made Scotland a laughing stock of the world," he raged.

"We are factually clear that enough people voted for Solidarity to elect us to the parliament, but their ballots were discounted. There has to be an inquiry into this farce. There is ground for re-running at least some, if not all of these elections over the next 12 months and the Electoral Commission should resign en-masse."

Coyly, he added: "I'm sure those who are less than kind to people like me on the left will think this is sour grapes."

While receptive to the idea of a legal challenge, Mr Sheridan admitted Solidarity lacked the resources to instigate such a move.

It was though, a day to contemplate wider issues, both political and personal. For all the disappointment, Mr Sheridan was in a relaxed mood, gathering the press pack to a sun-kissed park.

There, sitting on the grass, he discussed his formulating plans. "Solidarity came from nowhere to within a whisker of reaching the Scottish Parliament," he reflected.

"We will continue to build the left, and I will be part of that. For the first time in 15 years, I am not an elected politician, but I will be working for a living.

"I will stay politically involved, but perhaps pursue other aspects of life."

Any suggestion that his recent time in court harmed Solidarity were dismissed. "If anything, it's encouraged more people to give us a go. I don't regret standing my ground," he insisted.

Mr Sheridan intends to take his entitled severance pay, understood to be around three months' worth of an MSP's salary.

It will doubtless be a strange Scottish Parliament without Sheridan raising the heckles. Irrespective of his personal life or political creed, there can be little doubt that his legislative record will be missed.

12:01am Saturday 5th May 2007

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