THE chairman of transport authority Merseytravel has been branded a bully for threatening to sue a fellow councillor.

Cllr Mark Dowd is considering legal action against transport authority member Andrew Makinson for defamation, and the taxpayer is helping to cover Cllr Dowd’s legal bill.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Makinson was sent a legal letter on behalf of Cllr Dowd, after he issued a press release to journalists raising questions about the Labour chairman’s authorised use of Merseytravel’s credit card.

Merseytravel and Cllr Dowd refuse to discuss the case while legal action is ongoing.

Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Chris Davies said in the European Parliament: “Andrew Makinson, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Liverpool, recently used Freedom of Information procedures to reveal details of expenditure incurred by Mark Dowd, the Labour chairman of Merseytravel, using that public transport authority’s credit card.

“Now this may have embarrassed Mark Dowd, but embarrassment is one way of holding office-holders to account.

“In any case, the Labour Party is committed to the principle of financial transparency.

“Now, however, Cllr Dowd has Merseytravel taking legal proceedings against Andrew Makinson, demanding an apology and payment of potentially huge legal expenses.