French expats to elect first 'MP for Britain'

The campaign, which will centre on the area, follows legislation passed to give French citizens who live abroad their own MPs in the 2012 national elections. The law creates 11 constituencies for expatriates - a move that officials say is without precedent.

The third constituency covers the UK, the Irish Republic, Scandinavia and the Baltic states but 102,470 French voters are registered in the UK, compared with 22,071 in all the other countries that make up the seat.

The winning candidate will therefore effectively be an MP for Britain, say French officials.

Constituents include some of France's most successful figures, such as Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, bestselling author Marc Levy and pop star Renaud.

Campaign offices are being established in South Kensington and polling stations will be set up in the Charles de Gaulle lycée in Cromwell Road, and other places frequented by the French - which could include cafés, according to Hervé Fabre-Aubrespy, the government adviser overseeing the move.

"It is a challenge for us, because nothing similar has ever been done anywhere," said Mr Fabre-Aubrespy. "No one has carved the world up into constituencies in this way."

British citizens who live overseas vote in the constituency that was their last address before leaving the country. After 15 years abroad, they lose their right to vote. Similar rules have applied in France until now.