When she was elected the country’s first Green MP, Caroline Lucas pledged that Brighton would “come first”.

Yet, nine months after winning the parliamentary seat of Brighton Pavilion, The Argus can confirm she still has a family home nearly 200 miles away in another country.

The Green party leader and former Member of the European Parliament said the decision for her husband and two teenage sons to remain in Brussels, Belgium was “difficult” but was done in the family’s best interests.

They will move to Brighton in June when her eldest has finished his final school exams.

But opposition politicians, while having sympathy for the issues, questioned if she was really devoted to the area she was elected to represent.

Dr Lucas said: “It was always going to be a difficult year, balancing work and family life, and I’m so looking forward to the rest of the family joining me here.

“My husband Richard and I made the decision we thought was best for our children and I think it was right not to interrupt their education at such a crucial time.

“The boys are doing well and very much looking forward to moving to Brighton and living in such an exciting place.”