Lembit Opik MP and his new partner, Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia

The Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrat MP claimed that parts of an article in the Mail on Sunday "may be illegal".

The relationship between Ms Lloyd and Mr Opik ended in 2006, and the Mail on Sunday article was taken from her book, A Funny Kind of Love.

The MP is now dating Gabriela Irimia, of the pop duo The Cheeky Girls.

He and the Welsh weather presenter had become a couple in 2002, were engaged in 2004, and announced that they would marry in 2005. But their separation was confirmed in 2006.

Weather presenter Sian Lloyd's book will be published in April

Two months ago Ms Lloyd married motor racing entrepreneur Jonathan Ashman in the Gwynedd village of Portmeirion.

Mr Opik, who speaks for his party on housing, was asked about an article in the Mail on Sunday on Sky News' Sunday Live.

Mr Boulton asked Mr Opik: "The Mail on Sunday has got unflattering stories about you from your former fiance..."

Mr Opik cut in: "I can't talk about that because we are taking legal advice about that at the moment, I'm afraid."

Asked if he was considering suing, Mr Opik replied: "I can't say more about that at the moment, but there are some things that may be illegal about that article."

Ms Lloyd's book is due to be published next month.

Mr Opik has represented his mid Wales seat since 1997, and he holds it with a 7,173 majority.