Boris and Corbyn hit out at Virgin Trains’ Mail ban

BORIS Johnson hit out yesterday at the decision by Virgin Trains to stop stocking the Daily Mail, describing it as an ‘absurd’ and ‘pompous’ ban that resembles censorship.

A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn also spoke out on the issue and said that the paper would not be banned on the publicly-owned railway envisaged by Labour.

And a Downing Street source said Prime Minister Theresa May backed ‘the importance of a free Press to our democracy’.

Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, intervened after the train operator told West Coast line staff that the Mail is ‘not at all compatible’ with its brand.

In an internal memo, leaked to the train drivers’ union Aslef, Virgin Trains also said staff had raised ‘considerable concerns’ about the Mail’s ‘editorial position on issues such as immigration, LGBT rights and unemployment’.

Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘Absurd ban on Daily Mail by Virgin! Pompous, censorious and wrong #virginontheridiculous.’

A spokesman for Labour leader Mr Corbyn said: ‘Jeremy is an enthusiastic supporter of a free Press and the pluralism of the Press. Obviously private companies will decide what they want to stock on their trains.

‘There will be no bans on a publicly-owned railway.’

The Mail has said it was told by Virgin Trains that the only reason the paper would no longer be stocked was to ‘save space’, and that it only sold 70 copies a day.

A spokesman for the newspaper accused the train operator of only selling pro-Remain titles The Mirror, Financial Times and The Times, in line with owner Sir Richard Branson’s views.

Yesterday, a Downing Street source said Mrs May has been clear about the importance of having an independent Press but ultimately it was a decision for Virgin.

Asked if the Prime Minister shared her Foreign Secretary’s opinion, the source said: ‘She has always been clear on the importance of a free Press to our democracy and indeed to our society.’

The Society of Editors has also said it is concerned about the move by Virgin Trains, which it said ‘smacks of censorship’.