Virgin challenges Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘ram-packed’ train footage

Jeremy Corbyn is under fire after CCTV images appeared to show seats were available on a train after he claimed he was forced to sit on the floor.

Keren Harrison, 45, was travelling on the train and struck up a conversation with the Labour leader when she saw him sitting on the floor.

A video emerged last week which showed Mr Corbyn sitting on the floor of the London to Newcastle service and declaring “this is a problem that many passengers face every day” before calling for public ownership of the railways. The staff on the train are absolutely brilliant, working really hard to help everybody.

Jeremy Corbyn has become embroiled in a furious row with Virgin Trains over claims of overcrowding and his agenda for rail nationalisation after he recorded a video on a service he took to Newcastle ahead of a leadership hustings.

As the campaign approaches the final stretch, Mr Smith used a speech in Porth, South Wales, to make a pitch to members that he will listen to their concerns.

Corbyn can then be seen walking back to coach H and sat down for the remainder of the journey.

Not for Mr Corbyn the temptation to pull rank as Leader of the Opposition and demand a seat or, heaven forfend, travel First Class.

He is also backed by Momentum, a mass movement of party members who have turned out in their droves to support him at events around the country in recent days. Corbyn holds a dedicated support from the Labour Party members, however with the wider United Kingdom public, Corbyn has been best described as “political marmite”.

Virgin, though, released closed circuit television images showing Corbyn walking past empty seats during the August 11 trip from London to Newcastle – though some of them had tags suggesting they were reserved.

Corbyn, however, remains the favourite as the 67-year-old retains the backing of most trade unions and many grassroots supporters who signed up last year to ensure his victory. There were many other people sat on the floor during that journey.

Virgin Trains has said the CCTV footage showed Corbyn was filmed 30 minutes after the train departed from London.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a European capital city, has been bombarded with anti-Semitic messages since he said he would not support Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour Party leadership election.

Around 15 minutes later, Corbyn took a seat in coach H. “There were no seats he was able to find and staff couldn’t find any either”, the source said.

“I was on said train and it was very busy!” she said. He hadn’t managed to find a seat in the whole of the train. It was totally overcrowded.

“Smith, 46, was previously little known outside Briton’s Westminster parliament and has described Corbyn as a “misty-eyed” romantic”.

Mr Smith said he was “incredibly proud” to have the support of Ms Dugdale for his leadership bid.