But the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, may be ruing the day he chose to catch the 11am train from London to Newcastle as he fends off accusations he staged a photo in an attempt to look like a hard-pressed commuter.
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In an ill-tempered exchange with reporters this morning, he appeared to suggest there were in fact seats available, but not close enough for him to sit with his entourage.
When pressed about his version of events, Mr Corbyn said: “I’m glad you have watched the CCTV so carefully”.
His campaign team said he was unable to find unreserved seats for his group, which included aide Emma Rees and his wife Laura Alvarez, s o he sat with other passengers in the corridor who were also unable to secure a seat.
Labour leader yesterday claimed that a Virgin train, going from London to Newcastle, was so “ram-packed” he was forced to sit on the floor.
Mr Smith now trails the left-wing leader substantially in the polls, with the victor of the leadership contest expected to be announced on September 24.
Corbyn’s comments have been made a fortnight after his shadow Scottish secretary Dave Anderson said the party should “consider” a coalition with the SNP.
“I’m very pleased that Richard Branson’s been able to break off from his holiday to take this issue as seriously, with the importance it obviously deserves”, he said.
“Corbyn remains on track for victory despite ‘traingate, ‘ while Smith continues to show an unusual ability to put his foot in his mouth every time he makes a public utterance”.
Mr McDonnell’s attack aimed at party officials came just a day after Mr Corbyn said Labour staff should not be used as a “political football” in the leadership contest.
Mr Corbyn also condemned the use of the word “lunatic” by leadership rival Owen Smith, who appeared to use the term when describing Mr Corbyn – a claim the Pontypridd MP denied in an interview with Sky News.
He said: “The reason I think that Jeremy can be so complacent and passive about this is that he’s happy about the result”.
Mr Smith said he would “fight tooth and nail” to keep the United Kingdom in the European Union and said that, under his leadership, Labour would oppose the triggering of Article 50 – the formal way to leave the European Union – in a future Commons vote unless certain conditions were met.
He again insisted Wednesday’s press conference was about the NHS. “I was talking about me”.
Mr Corbyn was setting out what he called a “transformative” vision for the arts during campaigning in Scotland.
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Mr Corbyn initially said he did not believe the question about how he had voted was “grown up”, but after repeated questioning responded fully.
