Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has indicated he will stand again at the next general election – despite experiencing “vicious” attacks from nationalists on him and his family.
The former Scottish secretary said it was “more likely than not” he would defend his seat.
He also claimed Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond have ignored online abuse by SNP supporters to keep their party together.
In an interview with The House magazine, he described being targeted after admitting leaking a memo claiming the first minister wanted David Cameron to win last year.
An attempt in court to have him sacked as an MP failed, but he ended up having to deal with a six-figure legal bill.
Mr Carmichael said: “I had not anticipated the sheer viciousness that would come my way, the abuse on social media and the rest of it.
“The fact that some of it would not just be directed towards me, but towards members of my family and friends, I had not anticipated.
“But … it didn’t kill me, I’m here and I like to think I’m a stronger, better politician as a result.”
Asked whether Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond could do more to stop it, Mr Carmichael said he had a suspicion they “don’t tackle it” because “it makes their internal party management easier if their obsessives are focused outwards rather than focussing inwards”.
He admitted regretting the leak, but added: “I will be judged by my constituents and others on the totality of what I’ve done in public life, not just one TV interview.”
A SNP spokesman responded: “As the SNP have repeatedly made clear, online conduct should always be conducted in a civil, courteous manner befitting of our wider political debate.”
