Branson lif ts ban on the Mail af ter censorship outcry
VIRGIN Trains has reversed its ban on the Daily Mail after being widely accused of censorship.
Sir Richard Branson ordered the operator to restock the paper, admitting that the ban did not live up to the principle of freedom of speech.
In a post on his blog, the billionaire tycoon insisted the sales ban on the Virgin West Coast service was ‘not part of some grand campaign or at my behest’.
He added that neither he nor the Stagecoach chief executive Sir Brian Souter had been aware of the decision until they read about it in the Press.
Virgin Trains operates the West Coast service from London to Glasgow. It is a separate franchise from Virgin Trains East Coast, although both are joint ventures operated by Sir Richard’s Virgin and Sir Brian’s transport giant Stagecoach. Sir Richard stressed that the initial decision to bar the Daily Mail was made following feedback from some Virgin Trains staff.
He said: ‘Brian and I respect our people when they make decisions and we listen to their views. It is the way we have always run our companies. But we must listen to the concerns voiced widely this week – by those who agree with the Mail’s stance and those who vehemently disagree with it – that this move has been seen as censorship.
‘Freedom of speech, freedom of choice and tolerance for differing views are the core principles of any free and open society. While Virgin Trains has always said that their passengers are free to read whatever newspaper they choose on board West Coast trains, it is clear that on this occasion the decision to no longer sell the Mail has not been seen to live up to these principles.’
He added: ‘Brian and I agree that we must not ever be seen to be censoring what our customers read and influencing their freedom of choice. Nor must we be seen to be moralising on behalf of others. Instead we should stand up for the values we hold dear and defend them publicly, as I have done with the Mail on many issues over the years.’
The row erupted after a leaked memo revealing the ban surfaced in the monthly journal of train drivers union Aslef. The memo, written by ‘head of colleague communication and engagement’ Drew McMillan, said ‘considerable concern’ had been raised by colleagues about the Mail’s editorial position on issues such as immigration, unemployment and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. It concluded that the paper ‘is not compatible with the VT [Virgin Trains] brand and our beliefs’. The decision triggered a backlash from across the political spectrum.
Yesterday a Daily Mail spokesman said: ‘We welcome Sir Richard Branson and Sir Brian Souter’s support for freedom of speech, which is a cornerstone of our democracy, and his decision to instruct Virgin Trains to restock the Mail. We are sure the many Mail readers who travel on Virgin Trains will be delighted.’
‘Core principles of a free and open society’