Lembit Öpik

Lembit Öpik (/ˈlɛmbɪt ˈoʊpɪk/, Estonian: [ˈlembit ˈøpˑik]; born 2 March 1965) is a former British politician. A member of the Liberal Democrats until 2021, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat at the 2010 general election. He was the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2001 to 2007. He is of Estonian heritage.

Quotes

 * I have a big problem with asteroids [...] And so has the rest of the human race. Unless we do something to stop it, sooner or later an impact with an asteroid or a comet will lead to the end of most life on Earth.
 * "Spaceguard Project", Hansard, vol. 326 cc. 1184-92 (3 March 1999)

Every 15-year-old would love to say that they're chair of parliament for a space nation. By the age of 59, I am. I hope that wherever my grandfather is now, he'll look down and be proud of me trying to create a good politics for outer space.
 * Asgardia, the world's first space nation. It's the world’s first truly functioning digital democracy.
 * "'I want to help deliver first baby born in space' says former MP Lembit Opik", Belfast Telegraph (10 June 2024)