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Jeremy Corbyn angered by train seat row questions | Jeremy Corbyn angered by train seat row questions |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has reacted angrily to questions about his spat with Sir Richard Branson over a Virgin Train journey. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has reacted angrily to questions about his spat with Sir Richard Branson over a Virgin Train journey. |
He said he hoped the businessman was "well aware" of his plans to nationalise rail operators. | He said he hoped the businessman was "well aware" of his plans to nationalise rail operators. |
Sir Richard has challenged the Labour leader's claim in a video that he could not find a seat on a "packed" train from London to Newcastle. | Sir Richard has challenged the Labour leader's claim in a video that he could not find a seat on a "packed" train from London to Newcastle. |
Mr Corbyn tried to close down questions about it at a tetchy press conference. | Mr Corbyn tried to close down questions about it at a tetchy press conference. |
He told reporters he was there to talk about his NHS policies, but he eventually relented, saying: "I am very pleased that Richard Branson has been able to break off from his holiday to take this issue seriously and with the importance it obviously deserves. | He told reporters he was there to talk about his NHS policies, but he eventually relented, saying: "I am very pleased that Richard Branson has been able to break off from his holiday to take this issue seriously and with the importance it obviously deserves. |
"I hope he is very well aware of our policy, which is that train operating companies should become part of the public realm, not the private sector." | "I hope he is very well aware of our policy, which is that train operating companies should become part of the public realm, not the private sector." |
He added that he was looking forward to meeting Virgin Trains to discuss regulatory issues that needed to be addressed "even before we take them back into public ownership". | He added that he was looking forward to meeting Virgin Trains to discuss regulatory issues that needed to be addressed "even before we take them back into public ownership". |
In a film shown on The Guardian last week, Mr Corbyn said while sitting on the floor between carriages that he was experiencing a problem "many passengers face every day" on the London to Newcastle train. | |
But Virgin released CCTV footage on Tuesday, showing Mr Corbyn and his team walking past available seating before starting filming. | But Virgin released CCTV footage on Tuesday, showing Mr Corbyn and his team walking past available seating before starting filming. |
At his press conference, Mr Corbyn said: "Yes, I did walk through the train. Yes, I did look for two empty seats together so I could sit down with my wife, to talk to her. That wasn't possible so I went to the end of the train." | At his press conference, Mr Corbyn said: "Yes, I did walk through the train. Yes, I did look for two empty seats together so I could sit down with my wife, to talk to her. That wasn't possible so I went to the end of the train." |
He said the train manager, "who was a very nice gentleman", had offered him an upgrade to First Class, which he had declined. | He said the train manager, "who was a very nice gentleman", had offered him an upgrade to First Class, which he had declined. |
"He then, very kindly, did find some seats and, after 42 minutes, I went back through the train to the seats that had been allocated." | "He then, very kindly, did find some seats and, after 42 minutes, I went back through the train to the seats that had been allocated." |
'Astonishing' | 'Astonishing' |
Sir Richard Branson tweeted a link to the CCTV images on Tuesday, saying Mr Corbyn had "walked past empty unreserved seats then filmed claim train was 'ram-packed'". | Sir Richard Branson tweeted a link to the CCTV images on Tuesday, saying Mr Corbyn had "walked past empty unreserved seats then filmed claim train was 'ram-packed'". |
Mr Corbyn's leadership campaign manager Sam Tarry earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he believed Sir Richard had intervened in order to protect his company. | Mr Corbyn's leadership campaign manager Sam Tarry earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he believed Sir Richard had intervened in order to protect his company. |
He said: "The bigger story here... it is quite astonishing that a tax exile of more than 10 years decides to lay into and make a political intervention which is essentially what this is on social media in a very public way." | He said: "The bigger story here... it is quite astonishing that a tax exile of more than 10 years decides to lay into and make a political intervention which is essentially what this is on social media in a very public way." |
He continued: "I think it's quite clear - Richard Branson is literally laughing all the way to the bank at the British taxpayer's expense. | He continued: "I think it's quite clear - Richard Branson is literally laughing all the way to the bank at the British taxpayer's expense. |
"Let's be clear about this and exactly what's going on here. No train operating company in this country would be able to actually turn a profit without the vast subsidies from British taxpayers." | "Let's be clear about this and exactly what's going on here. No train operating company in this country would be able to actually turn a profit without the vast subsidies from British taxpayers." |
Labour MP Owen Smith, who is challenging Mr Corbyn in a leadership contest, said he accepted Virgin's account of the journey. | Labour MP Owen Smith, who is challenging Mr Corbyn in a leadership contest, said he accepted Virgin's account of the journey. |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is clear from the footage I've seen is that he had a seat on the train and there were seats on the train and he chose to sit on the floor for the purposes of the video. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is clear from the footage I've seen is that he had a seat on the train and there were seats on the train and he chose to sit on the floor for the purposes of the video. |
"But I do think he was trying to make a legitimate point. Trains are overcrowded and I think we should be nationalising them in order to make sure they serve the British people rather better." | "But I do think he was trying to make a legitimate point. Trains are overcrowded and I think we should be nationalising them in order to make sure they serve the British people rather better." |
Are you on the same service? If you're travelling on the 11 o'clock train from London Kings Cross to Newcastle on Wednesday, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Are you on the same service? If you're travelling on the 11 o'clock train from London Kings Cross to Newcastle on Wednesday, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or comment below. | Or comment below. |