A picture of Marine Le Pen’s deputy dining at a North African restaurant with other Front National (FN) officials has horrified supporters, who found their “unpatriotic” culinary choice hard to swallow.

The row — dubbed #CouscousGate on social networks — highlights a growing rift within the far-Right anti-immigration party, which could further undermine Ms Le Pen’s leadership four months after her defeat in the presidential election.

The photograph of FN vice-president and MEP Florian Philippot with FN colleagues at a restaurant in the eastern city of Strasbourg was posted on Twitter by Kelly Betesh, a party activist.