TRANSPORT authority Merseytravel has performed a U-turn on paying the legal bill of its chairman, it was claimed last night.

Cllr Mark Dowd was suing Liberal Democrat Andrew Makinson after he issued a press release raising questions about the Labour chairman’s authorised spending on Merseytravel’s credit card.

Previously Merseytravel has indicated it was “supporting” the case and the cost was within spending limits of its chief executive Neil Scales.

But in response to a Freedom of Information request the authority said it has not made any payments towards the case and will not be doing so in future.

The Daily Post understands the case could be settled before reaching court.

“To date Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (MITA) nor Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE) have made any payments towards Mark Dowd’s libel case and neither entity will be making any future payments towards this matter,” states the FOI response.

“The libel case is a private matter to which neither MITA nor MPTE are a party.”

MITA and MPTE are the two branches of the authority and executive which make up Merseytravel.

“MITA/MPTE sought legal advice related to comments in the press and the invoice for this work has not yet been received,” states the FOI response.

“This advice was provided during a meeting with external solicitors.”