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| Virgin West Coast train firm stops selling Daily Mail | Virgin West Coast train firm stops selling Daily Mail |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Virgin Trains has announced that it has stopped selling the Daily Mail newspaper on its West Coast trains. | |
| A spokesperson for Virgin said it regularly reviewed products sold on its trains, adding that "after listening to feedback from our people" it decided to stop stocking copies of the paper. | A spokesperson for Virgin said it regularly reviewed products sold on its trains, adding that "after listening to feedback from our people" it decided to stop stocking copies of the paper. |
| A Daily Mail spokesman called the decision "disgraceful". | A Daily Mail spokesman called the decision "disgraceful". |
| Last year, stationery chain Paperchase apologised for a promotional giveaway in the Mail following criticism. | Last year, stationery chain Paperchase apologised for a promotional giveaway in the Mail following criticism. |
| The Virgin spokesperson added that when it stocked the paper, which it stopped carrying in November, it only sold one copy for every four trains. | |
| The spokesperson told the BBC that the paper had never been stocked on its East Coast trains under the management of Virgin/Stagecoach. | The spokesperson told the BBC that the paper had never been stocked on its East Coast trains under the management of Virgin/Stagecoach. |
| And Drew McMillan, head of colleague communication and engagement at Virgin, told staff in an internal memo: "Thousands of people choose to read the Daily Mail every day. But they will no longer be reading it courtesy of VT. | And Drew McMillan, head of colleague communication and engagement at Virgin, told staff in an internal memo: "Thousands of people choose to read the Daily Mail every day. But they will no longer be reading it courtesy of VT. |
| "There's been considerable concern raised by colleagues about the Mail's editorial position on issues such as immigration, LGBT rights and unemployment. | "There's been considerable concern raised by colleagues about the Mail's editorial position on issues such as immigration, LGBT rights and unemployment. |
| "We've decided that this paper is not compatible with the VT brand and our beliefs. | "We've decided that this paper is not compatible with the VT brand and our beliefs. |
| "We will continue to offer The Times to customers, but we won't be stocking the Daily Mail for sale or as a giveaway. | "We will continue to offer The Times to customers, but we won't be stocking the Daily Mail for sale or as a giveaway. |
| "This won't suit all of our customers or all of our people - it's certain to draw some criticism. But we've listened to many colleagues over the last few months, and we feel that this is the right move to take." | "This won't suit all of our customers or all of our people - it's certain to draw some criticism. But we've listened to many colleagues over the last few months, and we feel that this is the right move to take." |
| 'Attack on free speech' | 'Attack on free speech' |
| Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "We are heading in a worrying direction." | Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "We are heading in a worrying direction." |
| The Daily Mail spokesman hit back, saying that at a time when fares were rising, it was "disgraceful" that Virgin was announcing that "for political reasons it is censoring the choice of newspapers it offers to passengers". | The Daily Mail spokesman hit back, saying that at a time when fares were rising, it was "disgraceful" that Virgin was announcing that "for political reasons it is censoring the choice of newspapers it offers to passengers". |
| He added: "It is equally rich that Virgin chose to launch this attack on free speech in the Aslef trade union journal. | He added: "It is equally rich that Virgin chose to launch this attack on free speech in the Aslef trade union journal. |
| "For the record, Virgin used to sell only 70 Daily Mails a day. They informed us last November that to save space, they were restricting sales to just three newspapers: the Mirror, FT and Times. | "For the record, Virgin used to sell only 70 Daily Mails a day. They informed us last November that to save space, they were restricting sales to just three newspapers: the Mirror, FT and Times. |
| "They gave no other reason, but it may be no coincidence that all those titles, like Virgin owner Sir Richard Branson, are pro-Remain." | "They gave no other reason, but it may be no coincidence that all those titles, like Virgin owner Sir Richard Branson, are pro-Remain." |
| The Mail has recently been critical of Sir Richard after the news that the Virgin/Stagecoach East Coast franchise will be allowed by the government to end its contract three years early. | The Mail has recently been critical of Sir Richard after the news that the Virgin/Stagecoach East Coast franchise will be allowed by the government to end its contract three years early. |
| The partnership had originally pledged to pay £3.3bn to run the service until 2023. | The partnership had originally pledged to pay £3.3bn to run the service until 2023. |
| Virgin West Coast runs trains between London, the Midlands, the north-west of England and Scotland. | Virgin West Coast runs trains between London, the Midlands, the north-west of England and Scotland. |
| Meanwhile, in response to a report that British Airways was going to stop offering the Daily Mail to passengers, a spokesman told the BBC: "We continue to provide a choice of free newspapers for our customers - at the boarding gate, in our lounges and on board. | Meanwhile, in response to a report that British Airways was going to stop offering the Daily Mail to passengers, a spokesman told the BBC: "We continue to provide a choice of free newspapers for our customers - at the boarding gate, in our lounges and on board. |
| "Some newspapers that provided bulk supplies have decided to change their commercial policy. This will result in alterations to the choice of free newspapers available to customers." | "Some newspapers that provided bulk supplies have decided to change their commercial policy. This will result in alterations to the choice of free newspapers available to customers." |