There was some speculation yesterday from hacks and EyeSpyMP what exactly former MP Lembit Opik was doing loitering around Parliament. After a brief flirt with TV punditry in those coalition negotiating days, it seems Lembit has bigger and better plans.

He told the crowd at his Montgomeryshire count “in the words of Arnie Schwarzenegger, I’ll be back…” but few would have expected where he has set his sights. Guido can exclusively reveal that Lembit was visiting Liberal Democrat MPs to take soundings on whether they would support his bid to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London. He already has an Ealing councillor in place as a campaign manager.

Though many were quick to dismiss Boris when he first mooted the idea of running, surely the curse of Lembit would kick in? Lest we forget he ran Mark Oaten’s messy bid to be Lib Dem leader, he also lost a relatively safe seat,  and that’s without the inevitable frolicking girls coming out of the woodwork. Surely he would have more fun sticking to what he is good at… riding Segways and chasing women?