Jeremy Corbyn reacted angrily to questions about his ‘train-gate’ spat with Virgin trains at a press conference earlier today, which had been called to discuss his NHS policies.
Corbyn tried to redirect journalists back towards the subject of the conference, but most were insistent that he should provide answers to the accusations that he lied in a recent film showing him sitting on the floor of a “ram-packed” Virgin train.
Virgin CEO Richard Branson responded to the film yesterday with CCTV footage from the train, showing Corbyn walking past empty, unreserved seats before settling on the floor. Corbyn was filming for the Guardian last week on the Virgin route to highlight the problems “many passengers face everyday” with overcrowded long-distance trains.
A Virgin press release detailed the CCTV footage, which showed “Mr Corbyn returning to coach H and taking a seat there, with the help of the onboard crew, around 45 minutes into the journey and over two hours before the train reached Newcastle. Mr Corbyn’s team carried out their filming around 30 minutes into the journey.”
“There were also additional empty seats on the train (the 11am departure from King’s Cross) which appear from CCTV to have been reserved but not taken, so they were also available for other passengers to sit on.”
A spokesperson from Virgin later said that it “clearly wasn’t the case” that Corbyn could not find an empty seat.
Jeremy Corbyn has made no secret of his intention to nationalise the British railways should he become Prime Minster, something that was underlined in his reponse to journalists at the press conference today. He said he hoped Richard Branson was “well aware” of his nationalisation plans, before closing down ay further questions.
As ever, Twitter could be relied on for a witty response to Corbyn’s lies:
#jeremycorbyn #traingate pic.twitter.com/KpWSE4DFLi
— Zazu’s Kitchen (@ZazusKitchen225) August 24, 2016
One of the few gains from #TrainGate – the free use of the delicious word ‘vestibule’.
— Alastair Stewart (@alstewitn) August 24, 2016
My Mum’s kitchen is absolutely rammed. #TrainGate pic.twitter.com/u5OFboFIyJ
— Shane Morgan (@MrShaneMorgan) August 23, 2016
Nothing more British than sitting on the corridor floor rather than asking people to move their bags #traingate https://t.co/w6aymik3mp
— Holly Brockwell (@holly) August 23, 2016
No seats at the football. Corbyn will have to sit on the pitch. #TrainGate pic.twitter.com/2FS8d5p9ur
— Ben (@Jamin2g) August 23, 2016