All eyes are on the best-selling novelist's next move, with speculation that he plans to write more, settle old scores and even return to politics.

Archer is waiting to discover whether he will keep the right to sit in the House of Lords, and he might be head-hunted by charities as a fundraiser, biographer and BBC Newsnight journalist Michael Crick says.

What is Lord Archer's next move? Will he go back to the House of Lords?

The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

Your reaction:

With his well-known flair for fiction, he'd be a perfect drop-in replacement for Mr Blair.
Martin, England, UK

Lord Archer is a bit of a hero in my eyes. He obviously should not have lied and deserved some kind of retribution for that. But Archer has been a vibrant personality who has displayed good leadership skills and entrepreneurship over the years. He reminds me of Bill Clinton a bit. Everyone deserves more than one or even two chances - I hope he does well in the future. Brits should embrace him, not pillory him.
Bruce Smith, USA (ex-Brit)

We must let Lord Archer reintegrate into society. All of us are sinners, and need forgiveness of one sort or another. I feel sure that he will land on his feet again quite easily, and wish him all the very best.
Margaret Sheridan-Wallis, UK

The best punishment for Mr Archer is to take his limelight away David, UK

Mr Archer should certainly not be allowed to sit in the Lords - he makes a mockery of his title which is supposed to be a mark of honour. He is best suited to writing fiction and theatre where his imagination and economy with the truth can pass for creative licence. I don't think he can be trusted in politics or charity fundraising. I think the media are reprehensible because his every word and action is reported as a sort of ongoing soap opera. Believe me, we really don't want to know! The best punishment for Mr Archer is to take his limelight away.
David, UK

Well I suppose Archer will have the last laugh and just keep on taking the money and keep on writing his dubious books that I will never buy.
R. Steward, UK

Lord Archer should have been allowed his privacy like all citizens. He would not have had to defend his honour if the press had behaved honourably. The only villains here are the media who should be bought to heel. History will be kinder to this man. In my view all citizens have the right to defend their honour against what is widely regarded as the most unprofessional of professions
Joe Christie, Australia

I am surprised that so many people think that he shouldn't have gone to jail. Jeffery Archer was a so-called pillar of the establishment, a man vested with a great deal of responsibility and power. He made a mockery of all that by pursuing a law suit in which he blatantly lied to serve his own ends - and won record damages, to boot. I say he should be prevented from making any money from his prison experiences (by writing about them, lecturing about them or otherwise), just as other criminals are prevented from profiting from their crimes by selling their stories.
VJ, Hong Kong

By what right should a convicted criminal have sway, even the tiniest amount, over the laws that are enacted in our country? Lord Archer has demonstrated a contempt for the law all the seedier given the motivation behind his perjury. That he could influence laws that affect our lives is disgraceful.
Maurice Jamall, UK (based in Japan)

I'm sorry, perhaps I'm a tad behind the times, but why is Archer so newsworthy? I couldn't give a fig what he did, never mind what he is going to do. Any publicity is good publicity, and the media are playing into his hands.
Jennifer Hynes, UK

Any sense of justice and fair play would be ruined if this man is allowed back in to the houses of Parliament even as a visitor!
Donal, UK

Archer returning to the House of Lords would be like Alan Partridge returning to national TV from the depths of local radio.
Phil, UK

What's a couple of years in prison to a man like Lord Archer? He's just been gathering fodder for his next scam, and meanwhile he's laughing at the rest of us. Just imagine what good he could do if he put his obvious intelligence to good use instead of ducking and diving all the time?
Susan, UK

I wish him luck and hope he bankrupts all those who added to his misery. The sentence was draconian.
D Nicholls, fr

The incredible bouncing man.
Richard Harries, UK

Whatever people may think of Lord Archer, he did pay the price for his crime albeit in a cushy way. However his art will prevail and I would imagine it will be business as usual, except he is likely to earn even more cash than before, given the recent chapter in his life.
Derek, USA

He should keep his head down, � la Geri Halliwell Stacey Mitchell, UK

I think that Archer will be back to settle some scores - whether in actuality or in his future novels, as from what I have seen of him, he still thinks his imprisonment and the way he has been treated is unjust. I think for the next few months he should keep his head down, � la Geri Halliwell, which will keep everyone guessing on his next move and make him seem more of an enigma.
Stacey Mitchell, UK

Hopefully he'll just disappear into obscurity! Even better, fall down a bottomless pit never to be seen again! Either way the less we hear from him, the better. And HM Prison Service can at least put our tax money towards jailing REAL criminals.
Dan, UK

I'm not a big fan of Lord Archer but what did he really do? He lied in court over a lawsuit against a newspaper. He's served his time and doesn't present a danger to society. There are plenty of muggers and rapists out there who get less time or get away with the crime completely. Why don't the newspapers follow them around and hassle them?
Paul Feagan, UK

Everyone seems to be expecting Lord Archer to add to his wealth through media and his own books. Many would say this is wrong but it is us the public that is buying the papers and reading his books that are adding to his wealth. The only way to teach him a lesson is to ignore the media, not to buy his books and to leave him to crawl quietly into a corner.
Stuart Pearson, UK

Who cares? The only ones who care are a few vindictive Labour MPs (who should be worrying about more important matters) will try and block him appearing in the House of Lords, the media will have a feeding frenzy and the public will not care a bit.
John, UK

Jeffrey Archer should never have been locked up R F Key, UK

Jeffrey Archer should never have been locked up. A financial penalty plus community service in which his talents could have been used to benefit less advantaged sections of the community would have been a far better idea. We spend thousands keeping him in prison for two years and yet allow teenage thugs and drug pushers to turn estates into no-go areas. In the matter of police and judicial priorities we have clearly lost the plot.
R F Key, UK

I don't know what Lord Archer will do next, only he knows that. However, the way his release from prison on license is being covered by the BBC is a sad reflection on the standards of editorial and journalistic presentation in use by the Corporation. He was found guilty, he has paid the price in prison. It is unacceptable that his every move since leaving prison is the subject of endless prying coverage. When this is combined with prurient speculation by pundits with an axe to grind it makes me wonder if the BBC is seeking to be seen as the tabloid of the airwaves. Please use common sense and decency in you journalism and editorial work and lets get back to responsible and objective reporting of real issues.
Peter Collins, UK

What does puzzle me are the stories in the press regarding his planned "revenge" against those who took part in his downfall. I sincerely hope he does not have such plans, as that just stinks of pettiness. He broke the law, and got caught. There is no one else to blame but himself. If he hadn't done it, his downfall would not have happened.
CG, UK

In 12 months time there will be the Bashir interview, and then Breakfast with Frost, then a documentary on prison reform Peter, UK

He will be quiet for a while, but in 12 months time there will be the Bashir interview, and then Breakfast with Frost, then a documentary on prison reform, another book launch etc. And the media will love every minute, and be manipulated by him like the master puppeteer he always has been. One thing to be said for him though is that he doesn't appear to have miraculously found God during his incarceration. Usually the last resort of those fallen from grace who crave media attention.
Peter, UK

Are they still looking for a Bishop of Reading?
Dave Williams

Perhaps Lord Archer might like to reinvent himself as a publicity shy recluse who lives in quiet acceptance of his own lack of skill or talent?
Tom, UK

Next move? A pint perhaps?
Martin, England

If Archer had any decency left he would not damage the reputation of the Lords with a return. But I fear this is beyond him. As such, I would support moves by the government to prevent his return.
Peter, UK

In my opinion Jeffrey Archer should be stripped of his title. He has been proved to be a liar and a cheat. Therefore he is not worthy of the title. If he had been in the civil service and committed the same crime he would not have been awarded a medal from the Queen for long service so why is he being allowed to keep the title of Lord?
Evelyn Dods, Scotland

Surely Archer's sentence in an open prison does not constitute an ordeal? Rick, UK

Exactly what is this "prison ordeal" that Archer has supposedly endured? He was convicted of a criminal offence and has been publicly exposed as a consistent liar and cheat, and sentence was duly passed. I thought "prison ordeal" constituted being wrongfully convicted of something you didn't do and sent down for life in the maximum security wing, sharing a tiny cell with a huge tattooed man in eye make-up called Gloria. Surely Archer's sentence in an open prison does not constitute an "ordeal"? The only ordeal I can think of is the inevitable book that will follow...
Rick, UK

Although he may have lost his liberty for a few years, Lord Archer will not die a poor man. He will write more books, more people will buy them and he will make more money. He will do more charitable work and become a leading voice in support of society's oppressed masses. One day he will make governor of Wormwood Scrubs.
Ian Simmins, UK

So how long before he's Tory Party Chairman again?
Simon Turvey, United Kingdom

Despite myself, I cannot help but admire Lord Archer for his ability to bounce back. I'm not sure what he'll do next, but it will be big. He might be the next Archbishop of Canterbury!
Nicholas J. Rogers, UK

He's not going to be given any real responsibility until he proves that he's a good boy Paul Shrimpton, UK

He's certainly eligible to sit in the House Of Lords, and probably will do. No doubt there will be (unconstitutional) moves by New Labour to block this, but I'll welcome him - as long as he has learnt from his time inside. And let's face it, he's not going to be given any real responsibility by anyone until he proves that he's a good boy. So let's just leave him be and see what he does, shall we?
Paul Shrimpton, UK

Lord Archer is released - cue another media frenzy. The media will revive the cult of Archer because they like to have tragi-comic characters to sell their papers. The man loves publicity - the best punishment I can think of is to deny him access to any.
Martin, London, UK

What will he do? He will increase his fortune by writing about his experience. Prison was completely inappropriate in this case. Lord Archer was not a danger to the public so there was no need to lock him up. He is a very rich man who committed a serious offence. A large proportion of his wealth should have been forfeit as a punishment.
Albert, UK

They may be able to strip him of his title of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare but he could also qualify for the House of Lords as Baron Munchausen.
Toby, Spain (originally UK)