McDonnell calls for Branson to be stripped of knighthood
THE row between Sir Richard Branson and Jeremy Corbyn has intensified as the Labour leader’s most senior ally called for the Virgin boss to be stripped of his knighthood.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell attacked the business tycoon, saying he wanted to “undermine our democracy” after Virgin Trains released footage disputing Mr Corbyn’s claims about overcrowding on its services.
Mr McDonnell, who is running Mr Corbyn’s campaign to be re-elected as Labour leader, demanded an overhaul of the honours system, and also repeated claims that former BHS boss Sir Philip Green should lose his title after closures of the retail giant’s High Street stores and job losses.
The Shadow Chancellor said Sir Richard was a “tax exile who thinks he can try and intervene and undermine our democracy”.
Mr McDonnell said: “The whole purpose of the honours system is undermined when the rich and the powerful can collect their gongs without giving anything back. It’s even worse when tax exiles are given honours.”
He added: “It should be a simple choice for the mega-rich. Run off to tax exile if you want. But you leave your titles and your honours behind when you go.”
The shadow chancellor’s spokesman added: “John believes that it should be for Parliament to ultimately decide who is or who is not stripped of their title, if enough members of the public campaign for it.
“But he would not support tax exiles or businessmen who mistreat their employees retaining their titles.”
The controversy erupted after Virgin Trains released CCTV images that appeared to show the Labour leader walking by vacant, unreserved seats before he was filmed sat on the floor complaining about crowded carriages.
Owen Smith, who is challenging Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership, hit back and said the shadow chancellor was proposing to punish The Virgin boss for “telling the truth”.
The former shadow work and pensions secretary said: “It seems a bit much, to be honest.
“I think he was merely pointing out the reality that Jeremy didn’t need to sit on the floor, so I can’t imagine we would strip somebody’s honours for telling the truth.”