Kenny MacAskill in marriage split

KENNY MacAskill's marriage crumbled under his gruelling workload it was claimed last night, after he told pals: "My wife married a lawyer - not the Justice Secretary."

The senior politician and his missus Alison had fought desperately to save their troubled relationship, which hit the rocks last year.

But last night the 51-year-old confirmed they had separated - just days after their 22nd wedding anniversary.

Dad-of-two MacAskill has now moved out of the family home in Edinburgh's plush Grange area and into a one-bedroom flat four miles away.

And pals are blaming the pressure of his job for the "painful" break-up.

Last night one friend said: "They had problems last year and decided to give it another go - but things didn't work out.

"Kenny said his wife married a lawyer, not the Scottish Justice Secretary, so perhaps work played its part."

Senior Nats have rallied round MacAskill as he comes to terms with the split, but insist he hasn't let his personal turmoil affect his work.

One pal said: "He wouldn't allow his private life to impact on his professional one"

And another added: "This is so painful for them. It must be difficult for Kenny to go about his daily business after such an ordeal."

Since the split, ex-lawyer MacAskill has been pouring his heart out to friends, who admit the agony has taken its toll on the football-daft minister.

A source said: "There's a sadness in his eyes - a new humility about him. Kenny the football fan, the bon viveur and family man, has gone.

"He looks older, sadder. When he told someone I knew about what happened he thought there were tears in his eyes.

"Among his friends he's been happy to talk about it - putting on a brave face and joking he's a single man again."

This week MacAskill trudged to and from his bachelor pad clutching bundles of paperwork (left).

Dressed in a black overcoat that swamped his thin frame, he looked pale and gaunt as he walked with his eyes fixed on the ground and his brow in a permanent frown.

The Justice Secretary was thrown into the international spotlight when he made the controversial decision to free Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi in August. He sparked world wide outrage by releasing the mass murderer on compassionate grounds and allowing him to return home to Libya.

But while pressure mounted in the months leading up to his decision, the cracks in his marriage were also growing.

The Libyans had been demanding Megrahi's release since his cancer diagnosis was revealed last October, and in March a summit was held between the Scottish Government and Abdulati Alobidi, Libyan minister for Europe.

A month later, the prisoner transfer agreement came into force, which meant the bomber could ask to serve the rest of his sentence in his native country.

And in May, Libya formally applied for the transfer of cancer-stricken Megrahi - the same month the MacAskills' marriage finally reached breaking point.

David Ben Ayreah, 64, former advisor to the UK Lockerbie families said: "The circumstances in his personal life must have added immensely to the stress he underwent.

"It must have made his decision so much harder, to have this kind of turmoil while giving a front of 'business as usual' to the world."

A Holyrood source added: "With Megrahi, and the rift in his private life, it's fair to say it's been a turbulent year."

In a short statement last night, MacAskill confirmed he had split from 53-year-old Alison - mother of his sons Roderick, 22, and Callum, 20 - but said he remained "good friends" with her.

The Edinburgh East and Musselburgh MSP added: "My wife and I separated on the best of terms after a period of some months trying to reconcile, and no third party has ever been involved."

MacAskill and Alison tied the knot at Edinburgh's Newington Register Office in 1987. In previous interviews he rarely mentioned his wife, but confirmed that she "works in education".

Alison refused to discuss the split when asked about it yesterday. She said: "I have nothing to say."

Last night stress and relationships expert Professor Ben Fletcher agreed that the pressures on MacAskill could have damaged his home life.

He added: "A lot of politcians get the home-work balance wrong. They can fall into the trap of not taking enough part in family life. Relationships with spouses can wither and die as a result."

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