The newspaper alleged on Sunday that he had enjoyed a taxpayer-funded jaunt around Europe since leaving Parliament in September.
"Since then Barclay has posted photos to social media of him and companion Kristy Martin enjoying some time off with a two-month tour of Europe's most envied destinations,'' the report stated.
"The Coliseum in Rome, the canals of Venice, ruins in Athens and white sands of Mykonos in Greece were all on the lengthy tour.''
Like all MPs who resign or are defeated, Mr Barclay - who resigned as an MP due to a taping scandal involving his former electorate agent Glenys Dickson - is entitled to three months' severance pay.
In response to the Herald story, the former MP posted on his Facebook page: ``For the record, I was on holiday for just under one month (not two) and stayed predominantly in (cheap) Airbnbs.
"As anyone who actually did their research and viewed my Facebook would know.
"Incidentally, many of my fellow 40 retiring (plus returning MPs) also travelled internationally at the same time - I can think of a few who actually went to the same places as us.
"But hey, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story.''
Responding to Mr Barclay's post, right-wing political commentator Matthew Hooton wrote: "This was one of the most hateful pieces of `journalism' I have ever seen.''
Mountain Scene reported last month Mr Barclay has started working in London for Japanese design and software company Too Corporation, owned by the founding owners of Arrowtown's Millbrook Resort.
- by Philip Chandler
