Former Liberal MPs Tim Smith, Alan Tudge’s unexpected UK outing

Controversial ex-MP Tim Smith appears to have taken a thinly veiled swipe at the Liberal party after its Aston by-election loss during an outing with Alan Tudge.

Liberal outcasts Tim Smith and Alan Tudge appear to have enjoyed some time together overseas just days after the Liberals lost the by-election in Mr Tudge’s former seat.

The controversial former MPs were snapped in a side-by-side selfie out front of a scenic UK waterfront, seemingly relaxed during the unexpected catch up.

Mr Smith took to Instagram on Friday morning (Australian time) to share the happy snap with his “dear friend,” who called time on his 13-year stint in politics earlier this year.

Alan Tudge quit politics less than a year after he was re-elected amid fears for his family’s safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Smith in the caption referenced his friend’s time in the Liberal government while also appearing to poke fun at the party’s historic defeat in Mr Tudge’s former seat of Aston.

“ … The former, but undefeated, member for Aston, and an outstanding Minister in the previous Liberal Government,” Mr Smith wrote.

Last week’s by-election was the first time since the 1920s when an opposition lost a seat in a by-election to a sitting federal government.

Mr Tudge resigned from his seat after more than a decade in politics earlier this year, citing concerns over his family’s safety after receiving death threats.

His departure came in the midst of the Robodebt royal commission, in which he was grilled regarding the scheme’s devastating ramifications on members of the public.

Mr Smith meanwhile formerly represented the electorate of Kew in Victorian state politics until he crashed his car in a drunken accident.

The embattled public figure recorded a BAC of 0.131 – more than two times the legal blood-alcohol limit – after crashing into another vehicle and a fence in Hawthorn in 2021.

Former Liberal MP Tim smith holds a door stop regarding his drink driving charge in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire

At the time Mr Smith told media he was driving home from a dinner with friends that night believing he was under the limit.

But sources close to the then 38-year-old told the Herald Sun he was “smashing cocktails” at a mate’s house before the incident.

He was issued an infringement notice and 12-month suspended licence as result.

Mr Smith has not been shy about criticising the Liberals after recent election defeats.

The scene on the corner of Power street and Denham Street, Hawthorn, where former Liberal MP Tim Smith crashed his car in 2021. Picture: Josie Hayden

After Matthew Guy’s loss to Daniel Andrews in last year’s state election, the disgraced former MP on Sky predicted the Liberals would be out of Government for “another eight years.”

The comments under Mr Smith’s Instagram post range from supportive to critical.

One comment read “Libs need change. You guys aren’t it.”

Another said “best to keep certain associations to yourself, I’d say.”

Others called for them to return to politics, such as one saying “someone has to save the Libs.”