THE sign outside Pat Farmer’s electoral office in working-class Campbelltown in Sydney’s far southwest reads “Running with Macarthur”.

But the shoes that carried the Liberal MP through ultramarathons and ultimately to Parliament House, are now parked outside his home in Mosman — one of the wealthiest suburbs in Australia.

It is more than just the 70km that separates Farmer’s electorate from his new home on Sydney’s lower north shore.

Campbelltown, with its reputation as a battler’s suburb, and Mosman, with its flash cars and multi-million-dollar homes, are worlds apart.

With millionaire businessmen as neighbours and views of the harbour around every corner, Mr Farmer no longer has to contend with the heat, social problems and mortgage stress which afflict the people he represents.

And the news that Mr Farmer is no longer living in his own electorate has gone down like a lead balloon among his constituents.

“It’s off-putting, even though I voted for him,” said Patricia Walsh, 62, who is a carer for her grandson Luke.

“He was doing a good job until he moved. He should stay with the local people.”

Ms Walsh said most locals thought their MP’s conduct was “pretty poor”.

“He has turned his back on the people who voted for him. I would say they are all disappointed. Why wouldn’t they be?”

Other locals were equally hostile. “Get him out of here,” shouted one, while another said he bet Mr Farmer wasn’t intending to run at the next election. “I’d rather be in Mosman than here, harbour views and all,” he said.

Mr Farmer faced an almost 11per cent swing against him at the last election and held the now marginal seat of Macarthur by only a few hundred votes. Labor candidate Nick Bleasdale said if voters had known Mr Farmer was moving to Mosman the outcome of the election would have been different.

The reactions of locals on the streets of Campbelltown yesterday confirmed his view. Health worker Mary-Anne Doherty described Mr Farmer’s abandonment of his electorate as “nasty, really cruel. People won’t go all the way to Mosman to see him; he probably thinks he’s safe there”.

Local office worker Margaret Frendo described the move as “the height of arrogance”. “He represents us but he’s too good to live here,” she said.

Liberal leader Brendan Nelson has “counselled” Mr Farmer on the move. A spokesman for Dr Nelson said Mr Farmer had assured him he remained committed to Macarthur, but ultimately “it will be up to the people whether this reflects on his ability to serve their best interests”.

Mr Farmer did not return calls from The Australian yesterday. But he told radio station 2UE he made “decisions based on my family and myself” and “if people don’t like that, it’s a shame”.