Tameside’s UKIP Euro-MP has been slammed for failing to turn up for a vote that could have protected Britain’s right to sell eggs by the dozen. Paul Nuttall, chairman of the UK Independence Party, has publicly attacked European Commission proposals for a new labelling law that will require food only to be sold by weight.

But a rival MEP, Liberal Democrat Chris Davies who tabled a crucial amendment intended to preserve the right to sell eggs by numbers, claims that Nuttall has failed to oppose the measure on two occasions.

Davies has furiously attacked UKIP for claiming to speak up for Britain but failing to turn up to vote. He said: “I don’t think very much of representatives who enjoy criticising others but who can’t find the time to do the job for which they were elected.

“The European Parliament has powers equal to governments in determining the final shape of EU laws. There is a serious job of work to be done and when crucial votes are taken Paul Nuttall should be in his seat to cast them.”

Chris said that the food labelling law was still the subject of debate and he was hopeful that changes would still be made, but he admitted that the defeat of his amendment made the prospects poorer.