MP and voter clash over girlfriends

But Mr Opik today hit back at the claims, saying that who he was friends with was no reflection on how he did his job, to which he dedicated 80 to 90 hours per week.

Rhiannon Davies, of Ludlow, but formerly from Mid Wales, lashed out at the Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire after reports claimed he was dating former Wonderbra girl Katie Green.

Miss Davies, 35, believes the 44-year-old is just doing it for the "publicity" and claimed that she was disgusted.

According to reports Mr Opik, who has also dated TV weathergirl Sian Lloyd and Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia, has been dating the 21-year-old model since meeting at a party two months ago - but Mr Opik has refused to comment on his personal life.

Miss Davies said: "I was absolutely disgusted to read about Lembit Opik desperately trying to raise his public profile by being linked to 'model' Katie Green.

"How can one of our local MPs be taken seriously as a result of this? He's letting his constituents down and he's most probably not even dating her - I think it's just a publicity act.

"He's trying to get into the celebrity lifestyle and I honestly think he should be in a different job. I wouldn't vote for him and I'm sure many others wouldn't either. I just think it's awful - he just can't be taken seriously anymore."

Mr Opik hit back saying that people had no right to make "unjustified" connections between his personal life and politics.

Mr Opik said: "I do a good job for the people of Montgomeryshire and work anything between 80 and 90 hours per week - I don't think anybody could work harder for the people of Montgomeryshire than I do.

"I can't stop people speculating or gossiping about my private life but I think it's wrong when they start making comments about the work I do for Montgomeryshire.

"Surely MPs are allowed personal lives and I shouldn't be judged for who my friends are. And if people want machines and not human beings representing them in parliament then, yes, maybe I am in the wrong job."