The new MEP chosen to represent the West Midlands has already been plunged into a row as rivals insisted her appointment was a waste of money and undemocratic.
Businesswoman Anthea McIntyre will head to the European Parliament in Brussels to begin her new job next week, as the number of MEPs representing the region rises from six to seven.
It followed changes to the European Parliament introduced in the Lisbon Treaty, which gave the UK one extra MEP. Officials then decided that the new MEP should represent the West Midlands.
But the Treaty was not ratified until after the 2009 European elections - which meant the region only elected six MEPs.
Ms McIntyre was a candidate for the Conservative Party in 2009, and based on the Tory share of the vote she would have been elected if the region had been choosing seven MEPs.
But as things stand she was has been handed the £84,500-a-year post without being elected.
Independent West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire said: “The last thing we need at a time when front line services are being cut is another politician.
“Worse still, this person will be completely unelected.
“The election posters for the 2009 poll said the West Midlands was electing six MEPs, not seven.”
And UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass said: “The 2009 European Elections were advertised and conducted to select six MEPs and the election took place at the ballot box on that basis.
“The addition of an extra MEP has no place in electoral law and is a waste of taxpayer’s cash.”
Europe Minister David Liddington, in a statement to the House of Commons, said: “This is an interim measure until the next elections to the European Parliament take place in June 2014. At those elections all UK MEPs, including the MEP for this extra seat, will then be elected in compliance with the normal procedure.”
