Humza Yousaf has refused to defend the SNP’s former Westminster leader after he was accused of being unfit to be an MP by his new lover’s estranged husband.
Ian Blackford was accused of “stealing” Kim Lyons in an interview Eric Boyle gave to the Mail on Sunday.
Mr Boyle claimed Ms Lyons, 63, who he married almost 14 years ago, used to compare Mr Blackford to a “weeble”, the self-righting egg-shaped toy from the 1970s.
Mr Blackford, 62, the MP for Skye, left his wife Ann last year to start a relationship with Ms Lyons, a childhood friend.
The couple were recently photographed walking into a BBC TV studio.
Mr Boyle told the Mail that his estranged wife would say "there he is, the Weeble" every time Mr Blackford appeared on television.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf accused of 'breathtaking hypocrisy' as he woos oil sector
He said: "She used to compare him to a round, wobbly children's toy, a Weeble, when he was on TV. Now he has stolen her from me.
“It's important Ian is exposed for who he is. He should not be in the position he is.
"How can you be an MP when you're stealing some other man's wife? It makes him a hypocrite.
"It is not love, it can't be love. She calls him a Weeble. Why would she say things like that and then go and be with him if not for the money?"
On Monday, Mr Yousaf gave a round of media interviews after speaking in Aberdeen about the SNP’s energy policy going into the general election.
Asked if Mr Blackford was fit to be an MP, Mr Yousaf said: “We’re not going to speak about people’s personal lives. I’ve never done that, I’m not going to do that just now.”
However, Mr Blackford’s successor as Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, who was standing next to Mr Yousaf at the time, happily leapt to Mr Blackford’s defence.
As Mr Yousaf’s press minder led the SNP leader away, the Aberdeen South MP was also asked if Mr Blackford was fit to be one of his MPs.
Mr Flynn, who deposed Mr Blackford in December 2022, said: “Ian is a much valued colleague, who I have a deep respect for, who I’ve worked very closely with and Ian like everyone else is entitled to a private life.”
Asked if Mr Blackford had crossed a line and behaved “like a cad”, Mr Flynn said: “I think everyone is entitled to a private life and I think all your readers would feel the same.
“Ian is an incredibly talented individual, someone who I’ve worked incredibly closely with, who all my colleagues have worked closely with.
“He’s got an excellent career behind him and he’s got an excellent career in the future as well.”
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Mr Blackford, a former banker who styled himself as a “humble crofter”, is standing down as an MP at the election, but hinted he might stand for Holyrood in 2026.
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