Tim Smith slips out of Melbourne, believed to be in Britain

Disgraced MP Tim Smith, who hasn’t been seen publicly since a trainwreck press conference this month, has left town.

Disgraced MP Tim Smith has left Melbourne and gone overseas, as the Liberal Party prepares for a potentially damaging by-election in his Kew electorate.

The Saturday Herald Sun has confirmed Mr Smith, who hasn’t been seen publicly since a trainwreck press conference this month, has quietly slipped out of town.

Senior Liberals confirmed Mr Smith was overseas and say he is in Britain, where he has a large professional and social network. He has vowed to be home for Christmas.

Mr Smith cut ties with most of his Liberal colleagues, this week left a Coalition WhatsApp group, and has been granted special leave from attending parliament in the fallout of his drink-drive car crash.

Tim Smith speaks during a trainwreck press conference at Parliament House. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Smith crashed his car into a Hawthorn home.

He made the decision to quit politics at the 2022 election in the fallout of the October 30 crash in which he smashed his Jaguar into a Hawthorn home and recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.131.

Senior Liberals now fear Mr Smith is seeking to exact revenge on the party and former close mate, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

“Tim claims Matthew had committed to supporting him, but then changed his mind,” one source said.

“He wants to inflict maximum damage. He’s made up his mind and wants to destroy several former colleagues.”

It is believed Mr Smith has told close friends he intends to force a by-election.

RedBridge polling conducted in Kew this month showed a major swing against him, and just a third of voters say he should remain in parliament.

While the Liberals hold the traditionally blue-riband seat by a margin of 4.5 per cent, the polling showed a 4 per cent swing against Mr Smith on a two-party preferred basis.