“Dear chief secretary, I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam.” read the note.

Although the message was not apparently heeded by some of Liam Byrne’s colleagues before they were ousted.

David Laws, Liberal Dem MP, the new chief secretary to the Treasury and the note’s recipient has claimed that former Labour government ministers went ahead with spending commitments against accountants’ advice.

Laws said some ministers made decisions ‘against accounting officer advice’ during their last few months in office, according to the BBC’s Newsnight.

‘I think we’re very concerned indeed that over the last few months of this government, there were a lot of spending commitments that were made and some of those may not represent good value for money’.

Good to see another public figure who has mastered the art of understatement.

(Pic. Keith Edkins)