Scandal-hit Fife MSP Bill Walker was branded a ”parliamentary pariah” as he was shunned on his return to Holyrood.
On Wednesday, the 70-year-old made his first appearance at the Scottish Parliament since allegations of domestic abuse and rape stretching over four decades were made public.
The Dunfermline MSP, who was expelled from the SNP earlier this month, voted with the Nationalists but became the focus of a humiliating row over where he would sit in the chamber.
MSPs from across the political spectrum including First Minister Alex Salmond insisted they would not share their benches with him.
He instead took a seat at the back of the benches occupied by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Green MSPs, who all avoided sitting near him.
A Tory source told The Courier: ”The guy has become a parliamentary pariah nobody wants to be associated with him.”
During the debate Mr Walker was seen to laugh at jokes made in a speech by SNP minister Alex Neil and bang on the table in agreement with his former party.
Earlier Mr Salmond, the SNP leader, said he could not comment on the case because Mr Walker could still appeal his expulsion.
But he added: ”He’s no longer a member of the SNP I’ve got no control over him. But one thing’s for certain he won’t be sitting on the SNP benches.”
Labour’s business manager Paul Martin said: ”He certainly won’t be sitting on the Labour benches.”Allegations ‘never tested in court’Meanwhile, Mr Walker released a statement again denying the allegations made against him in divorce papers lodged at various points in the last 40 years by his three ex-wives.
”I have never assaulted anyone as claimed in various reports, and not a single allegation made against me has ever been tested in court,” he said.
”When my second marriage ended, as with my first, I took legal advice and was advised that if I wanted to save the marriage, I should defend the divorce action.
”Otherwise, I should ‘hold my tongue’ and leave my then wife’s divorce action to proceed, which I duly did.
”A decision not to defend the divorce proceedings is not an admission of the allegations made in the proceedings.”
Mr Walker added: ”My belief is that these allegations are part of an orchestrated smear campaign to which I shall not be succumbing.
”I shall continue to serve the interests of the people of my Dunfermline constituency.”
He refused to comment further as he left the parliament on Wednesday night.
Earlier this week Mr Walker confessed to ”slapping” his second wife in self-defence.