Prosecute Abbott for boozing on train, say Tories
DIANE ABBOTT should be prosecuted for flouting a drink ban on a train, Conservative MPs demanded last night.
They called on the Shadow Home Secretary to face the consequences after being caught swigging from a can of rum cocktail on a London Overground train last week.
She was forced to apologise after being photographed breaching the strict ‘no alcohol’ rule on all trains and buses operated by Transport for London (TfL).
The Labour frontbencher tweeted: ‘A photo of me drinking from a can of M&S mojito on the Overground has been circulated.
‘I’m sincerely sorry for drinking on TfL.’
But last night Tory MPs said the apology did not go far enough, and called on TfL to prosecute Ms Abbott for breaking a ban introduced in 2008.
Harrow East MP Bob Blackman said: ‘It’s up to a Shadow Home Secretary to set an example by obeying the rules – not openly flout them. Diane should be prosecuted by TfL for this.
‘She can have no excuse. Not only is she a London MP but this very sensible rule has been in place for over a decade now.’
He was backed by fellow Tory MP Paul Scully, who added: ‘Diane Abbott is not above the law and should be treated like anyone else who infringes it.
‘TfL makes it very clear that anyone who is drinking alcohol on one of their trains is liable to prosecution.’
Ms Abbott, 65, was snapped drinking the cocktail on a journey through her North London constituency a week ago yesterday.
A fellow passenger was quoted as saying: ‘She kept her head down and was staring at her phone but kept slurping from the can.
‘It was 1pm, so a bit early to be drinking – especially in public.’
TfL’s booze ban was brought in nearly 11 years ago by thenLondon Tory mayor Boris Johnson, in an effort to cut crime and reduce anti-social behaviour on London’s transport network.
At the time, Mr Johnson said: ‘I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London’s public transport will create a better travelling environment for all Londoners.’
But yesterday Ms Abbott, who campaigned against the sale of cheap alcohol when she was the Shadow Minister for Public Health, received support on Twitter. One user said: ‘Hope you really enjoyed the drink – it’s no one’s business but yours.’
Fellow Labour London MP David Lammy said: ‘Jah Rastafari! Why was the rum not Jamaican?’
Ms Abbott also appeared to have started a new craze among Leftwing activists. Matt Zarb-Cousin – a former spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – tweeted: ‘The act of getting cans in for a train journey will now be known as “Abbotting”.’
It is not the first time that Ms Abbott – a former girlfriend of Mr Corbyn and one of his closest allies – has been pictured enjoying a drink.
Two years ago, The Mail on Sunday published a snap of her and fellow Labour frontbencher Shami Chakrabarti seated at a table with full champagne flutes.
The pair were caught on camera in the House of Lords’ exclusive Barry Room, where a bottle of Brut then cost £43 and a bottle of Prosecco Belstar, £25.50.
A TfL spokesman said last night that its staff and police dealt with illegal alcohol consumption on public transport ‘usually through asking the passenger to refrain and dispose of the alcohol, using the opportunity to educate about the purpose of our bylaws’.
‘She kept slurping from the can’