Jeremy Corbyn TROLLED by model train maker with sarcastic Virgin Trains tweet after #traingate row
Hornby took to Twitter to announce its Virgin Trains models have 'many empty seats'
MODEL train maker Hornby has taken a swipe at the Labour leader after his embarrassing spat with Virgin Trains about the availability of seats on its services.
In a very sarcastic tweet the company said: “OUT NOW - Virgin East Coast Train Pack. Complete with two Mk4 coaches with many empty seats.”
The train row erupted last week after he was filmed in a corridor on Virgin’s London to Newcastle train complaining it was “completely ram-packed”.
CCTV images released by the train company appeared to show Mr Corbyn walking by vacant, unreserved seats.
About forty minutes into the journey, Mr Corbyn and the people he was with were escorted to seats by train staff.
And last Wednesday he admitted he had walked through the train to look for two empty seats together so he could sit with his wife and talk to her.
Virgin Trains has said it was “puzzled' by the suggestion Mr Corbyn was unable to find unreserved seats as the CCTV images appeared to show him walking straight past them.
In a stunning intervention, billionaire Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson produced photo evidence showing that Mr Corbyn, 67, enjoyed a seat for most of the journey from London King’s Cross.
He also tweeted a company statement — which prompted outrage online at Mr Corbyn.
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Mr Corbyn was asked why he thought the billionaire had decided to get involved in the row and replied at the time: “I'm very pleased Richard Branson has been able to break off from his holiday to take this issue as seriously, with the importance it obviously deserves.
“I hope he's very well aware of our policy which is that train operating companies should become part of the public realm not the private sector.”
A poll for said just 19% of people believed there were no unreserved seats available on the train, while 59% thought there were.
Among current Conservative voters that drops to just 7% saying there were no seats, but even amongst Labour voters Mr Corbyn’s initial story is not widely believed.
The survey showed 39% thought there no seats available, while 34% thought there were.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has confirmed it is investigating the release of the CCTV images by Virgin Trains.
reports a Virgin Trains spokesman said the company had not yet been approached by the ICO, but intended to answer any questions asked.
Twitter users have got involved in the joke with tweets including one by Richard, from Wiltshire, who asked: “'Couldn't include a mini Corbyn squatting on the floor?” and Matt Hall who posted: “Does it have CCTV?”
And Graham Triggs said: “I would buy one, but worried that Corbyn might take it into public ownership.”