But an expat Yorkshireman could soon change that, if he is successful in entering party politics as France's first British regional councillor.

Ken Tatham, already mayor of a small village called Saint Céneri le Gerei, is to run in March's local elections as a candidate in the county district of Alençon-1, in Normandy.

"Nobody takes any notice of the fact I am a foreigner until it comes to election time," the 62-year-old – known locally as Monsieur le Maire – told the Yorkshire Post.

"It was like running for mayor – I had to prove that I was wholly integrated into French society."

It is now over 13 years since Mr Tatham was first voted mayor by 80 per cent of Saint Céneri le Gerei's 700 residents, but his ambition is to have responsibility for nearly 30,000 people in France's biggest regional district.

The Leeds-born property expert claims his commitment to French life is no less than any other local, having lived in the famously beautiful village for over 40 years with dual nationality.

Although he is a seasoned politician, Mr Tatham could face some tough competition in the election from the outgoing socialist councillor.

Joaquim Pueyo, himself of Spanish origin, has been running the Alençon-1 district, 100 miles west of Paris, in the Conseil Général assembly for 18 years

Mr Tatham is standing for the Nouveau Centre (New Centre) party, a new Right-of-centre group with links to President Nicolas Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).

"The current holder of the post doesn't belong to the same political party as me, and I believe it is time for a change," he said. "I think I have the perspective of a complete European, as I have lived in so many different countries. I am used to managing people locally as mayor, listening to them and understanding their problems. It doesn't make a difference that I am English."

Mr Tatham has many family members in West Yorkshire and keenly supports Leeds United, but he rarely ventures back to the country of his birth.

"I think England has become overcrowded and claustrophobic. My family usually come and see me here in France to enjoy all the good food and drink," he said. "The British expats here, who make up about 15 per cent of the population of Saint Céneri le Gerei, enjoy the space and the freedom to move around.

"I feel more of a Yorkshireman than an Englishman, as you never renege on your origins. But equally, I feel very French. My boys and my grandchildren have all grown up here and they have dual French and English nationality.

"I will probably drop in on Yorkshire after the elections and I will definitely try to see a football match while I am there."

The French local elections are likely to be a hard-fought battleground between the different political parties, after a close general election victory for the Gaullist President Nicolas Sarkozy last year.

"Politics is a national sport for the French," Mr Tatham added. "They are far less apathetic than the English when it comes to turning out to vote. They love elections."

His campaign in the agricultural area of Alençon will focus on sustainable development, better services for children and incentives for business men and women thinking of moving to the countryside.

Mr Tatham runs a company called Take French Leave, which advises people on relocating to France.