The former minister who left a note for the Coalition saying “there’s no money” today won a legal battle over an expenses claim for leaflets he sent out featuring Labour councillors.
The expenses watchdog refused to pay £1,853 postage for the information cards, deciding they were “political in nature” rather than “parliamentary”.
But Liam Byrne, who as Labour’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury left the infamous note, took the case to tribunal.
He risked criticism as the legal clash with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority could leave the taxpayer with a £30,000 bill.
But the Standard understands the tribunal, which sat at the Royal Courts of Justice last week, has ruled in his favour.
Mr Byrne said: “If true, this is a victory for common sense and a victory to defend MPs’ duty to serve their constituents to the best of their ability.”
He said it was a “shame” IPSA’s compliance officer had spent an estimated £25,000 fighting the case.
The cost of the tribunal is also expected to run into thousands of pounds.
The Labour MP said sending out the information cards was part of his “parliamentary” duties.
But IPSA suggested he had sought to “circumvent” its rules in an “attempt to raise the local profile of local Labour representatives, including the MP”.
MPs are eligible to claim for expenses incurred “wholly, exclusively and neccessarily” in the performance of their parliamentary functions.
The information cards pictured the MP with three Labour Birmingham councillors with the slogan “fighting hard for your fair share”.
IPSA argued that only a quarter of the £1,800 should be eligible under the MPs’ expenses system as Mr Byrne was one of four people on the leaflets.
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