Tag Archives: lembit opik

After a year of reading about himself in the press, Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik has decided to open up to the Daily Mail about last year’s annus horribilis by writing an exclusive two-part feature article. The first part focused on Lembit’s relationship with Gabriela Irimia; the second part recounts their split-up, his unsuccessful bid for the party presidency, and how the year ended with Lembit beginning to discover himself – here’s an excerpt:

As 2008 passed into 2009, everything went quiet. Work returned to its weekly rhythm. The photos of lost loves faded from the pages of the Press

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After a year of reading about himself in the press, Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik has decided to open up to the Daily Mail about last year’s annus horribilis by writing an exclusive two-part feature article. The first part focuses on his relationship with Gabriela Irimia – here’s an excerpt:

Frankly, I had no expectation of anything romantic happening between us, although I must admit that I was secretly hopeful. When, two months later, we became more than just friends, cynics derided our alliance. To them it just had to be a stunt, after all I was 41 and she was

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File under ‘You couldn’t make it up’ – the Guardian reports:

Former Cheeky Girl beau and Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik is to rejoin the Daily Sport as its political columnist this week. Opik, who alongside his regular TV appearances represents Welsh constituency Montgomeryshire, will pen a weekly Friday column for the paper.

According, that is, to The Sun (a favourite read of The Voice):

Limelight-loving Lembit has signed up for the show — back next January after a year’s break. Bosses picked the goofy-grinned Lib Dem hoping he’ll reveal all about his doomed affair with Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia. Lembit might even copy fellow MP George Galloway when he was on the show — and don a skin-tight red leotard.

Oddball Lembit, 43, and Gabriela, 25, got engaged after he popped the question in Rome in April, but split a few months later. He’s also had a relationship with TV weather girl Sian

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The BBC website gives us the low-down on the various ins and outs of the minor shadow cabinet reshuffle and a new entrant to the Lib Dem presidential race:

Lembit Opik is standing down as Liberal Democrat housing spokesman to concentrate on his campaign to succeed Simon Hughes as the party’s president. A Lib Dem spokesman said the MP for Montgomeryshire was facing two rivals in the presidency election – Baroness Scott and Chandila Fernando.

The housing portfolio will now be overseen by local government spokeswoman Julia Goldsworthy. Voting for Lib Dem president ends on 7 November, with a result the

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According to the Independent’s Pandora column:

“I’m back in business,” announces Lembit Opik. “I’m definitely going to stand for president of the Liberal Democrats. It’s the one job I’ve always wanted.” … With the campaign set to begin at the party conference, the Montgomeryshire MP’s only current rival for the post, which Simon Hughes vacates in November, is Baroness Ros Scott. And Opik is sure he can win. “I’ve got to be regarded as the odds-on favourite,” he insists. “I came runner-up last time.” …

“Who are these people saying I’m not going to stand?” he retorts. “People used to say

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