A spokeswoman for Nigel Farage has hit out at "false" allegations that she had an affair with the Ukip leader.
Annabelle Fuller complained of being "hounded" after an MEP challenged Farage on the rumours in the European Parliament.
Nikki Sinclaire, who left the party after a row with Mr Farage, said during a plenary session this morning: "With unemployment still a problem across Europe and indeed across the UK, does Mr Farage think it is a fair use of taxpayers' money, namely his secretarial allowance, not only to employ his wife Kirsten but his former mistress Annabelle Fuller?
Nigel Farage speaks at a UKIP meeting in Windsor with Annabelle Fuller to the right
"Is this a responsible use of taxpayers' money, Mr Farage?" Farage responded: "I don't want to answer that at all, thank you."
In a statement this afternoon, Fuller said: "I have been continually hounded by the press with these false allegations since 2006 including having journalists camp outside my house.
"It's a shame that as a woman I am considered fair game for accusations of alleged affairs. It's hard enough being a woman in politics without having to justify why I am employed.
"It is safe to say that this would not have happened if I was a man. Surely this is something that Nikki Sinclaire should have considered."
Fuller worked for Ukip for many years before leaving for a stint as a public relations consultant, and has now returned as a spin doctor for the party.
Farage is understood to have denied allegations of an affair with Miss Fuller in the past.