The Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF) is today counting the cost of settling a whistle-blowing case with a former employee, Marcia Solomon.

32 year-old Ms Solomon, of Croydon, South London, was allegedly sacked after making a complaint that Roger Lyons, General Secretary of the MSF, and Nelson Mendes, head of finance, had submitted excessive expense claims.

Ms Solomon told an employment tribunal that Mr Lyons and Mr Mendes had made false expense claims since 1996. She also told the tribunal that large amounts of money had been given to the officials during a period when the union was cutting costs and making staff redundant.

In an article in the Telegraph, Ms Solomon is reported to have told the tribunal, "every little incident seemed to add to the impression that Roger was living the high life with union funds."

In an out of court settlement, the MSF Union is believed to have paid £50,000 compensation to Ms Solomon, who said, "I regret having had to take the MSF to an employment tribunal as I always considered it to be an excellent organisation, not least in its campaign to provide protection for whistle blowers."