MERSEYTRAVEL chairman Mark Dowd is suing a fellow member of the transport authority for defamation – and the taxpayer is helping to pay his legal bill.

Liberal Democrat Andrew Makinson was sent a legal claim by Cllr Dowd after issuing a press release raising questions about the Labour chairman’s spending on Merseytravel’s credit card.

Last night, Merseytravel refused to say how much it was contributing to the legal action by its chairman.

But renowned Liverpool solicitor Rex Makin said costs in a case like this could run to tens of thousands.

“The costs of legal action like this can run to tens of thousands, I think it is quite wrong for Merseytravel to be involved.”

Neither Cllr Dowd, who has previously refused to discuss the credit card questions – saying he was considering legal action – or Cllr Makinson, could be reached for comment last night.

In an email seen by the Daily Post, Cllr Makinson questioned Merseytravel’s senior legal officer, Tony Fitzpatrick, about why the transport authority was backing Cllr Dowd’s case.

“The chief executive (Neil Scales) has informed me today that the authority is financially supporting Cllr Dowd's legal action against me,” said Cllr Makinson’s email.