According to reports, Lembit Opik has been dumped by his Cheeky Girl fiancee. Apparently Gabriela Irimia told pals that when they got together he just went on and on, “dominating the conversation”.

Apparently Gabriela Irimia told pals that when they got together he just went on and on, "dominating the conversation".

Most of us will sympathise. For months, Opik has conducted his romantic adventures in the full glare of publicity. First, the messy split with Sian Lloyd, then the interviews about his new love, and most recently the romantic wedding proposal in Rome, as told to Hello!

Of course, in this media savvy age, many politicians attempt to show the public their ‘less serious side’ when they get the chance — and the cheque.

No doubt Opik probably deluded himself that he was injecting fun into the stuffy corridors of Westminster and appealin’ to Yoof. He wasn’t. The whole hugely embarrassing episode has probably put paid to whatever credibility he had remaining.

Plus, it doesn’t do much for his appeal to women voters — interestingly, Gabriela has the same gripes about him as Sian, such as his penchant for turning up late for dates.

It’s all very sad because when Northern Ireland-born Opik first became a Lib Dem MP he seemed to have genuine media savvy.

With his Scrabble-winning name, he was cute about getting himself onto Five Live to talk about quirky interests like asteroids.

Now he’s generally just regarded as a D-list celeb — and one more suited to the BB House than the House of Commons.