One of the North East's two new Brexit Party MEPs has defended living between France and London.
Brian Monteith, a former Tory member of the Scottish Parliament, was called a "hypocrite" by Labour's MEP for his living arrangements.
Mr Monteith, who has never lived in the region, said where he lives has no impact on his ability to represent people in the North East.
He was elected along with John Tennant after the party, spearheaded by Nigel Farage, won 38.7% of the vote in the European election.
Jude Kirton-Darling was re-elected as Labour managed to hold on to one seat on 19.3% of the vote.
She said Mr Monteith is "benefiting from the free movement he wants to strip from younger people".
Mr Monteith said the comments were "very personal", adding: "I think people have run out of ideas if all they can think about is trying to take people on for their personal background, where they might stay."
The Scottish Brexiteer added: "When Bobby Moncur came to Newcastle and helped them lift the Fairs Cup, no one was complaining that he came from somewhere else.
"When Ian Porterfield scored the winning goal in the FA Cup for Sunderland , no one was complaining that he came from outside the local area.
"I come from outside the local area, I'm going to do a job for people from the North East and I think they'll be happy when they see what I can do."
Asked about his French residence, Mr Monteith said: "I'm moving out of France. I've told people this before - I'm actually relocating and was when I was invited to stand.
"People want to fixate on where I might be.
"I will not be in France - I'll be in Brussels and Strasbourg and then I'll be coming here to speak to people and businesses, seeing what the concerns are."
Asked if he'll live in the North East, he said: "Well I'll be living here some of the time, I'll be living in Brussels and Strasbourg, but, you know, where I'll be after October when I won't be an MEP, that's what I can't promise, because I'll have a new job and I'll be able to take myself somewhere else, like Africa, where I've been before."
