Railway firm broke its own rules – along with the law – in releasing Corbyn CCTV images

Last Updated: August 28, 2016By
Jeremy Corbyn in a CCTV image released by Virgin [Image: AFP/Getty Images].

Jeremy Corbyn in a CCTV image released by Virgin [Image: AFP/Getty Images].

We already knew that Virgin Trains had broken the Information Commissioner’s rules on CCTV; now it transpires that publishing images of Jeremy Corbyn broke its own rules as well.

Not only that; publishing the images didn’t even make a material difference to the story!

Mr Corbyn was still able to say that the train he had taken was “ram-packed” (whatever that means) and that he had to sit on the floor.

The images did not prove that he passed empty seats in order to sit on the floor; many were occupied by young people, or at least those who were not tall enough for their heads to show over the top of the seat in front of them.

So Virgin has engaged in a lengthy exercise, entirely to its own detriment, while failing to tarnish the good name of Mr Corbyn.

There are a few dozen backbench Labour MPs who know how that feels!

The decision by Virgin Trains to release CCTV images of Jeremy Corbyn on one of its services after he complained on video about the journey being “completely ram-packed” was in breach of the company’s own policies, the Guardian can reveal.

The company handed images, which appeared to show the Labour leader walking past empty seats before sitting on the train’s floor, to the media earlier this week in a move that embarrassed Corbyn.

A leaked internal document warns that CCTV images will only be made available to the media in two situations: where it is “necessary to seek assistance from the public in connection with a criminal investigation” or where it might improve the “safety of the railway or prevent railway accidents of incidents”.

Source: Virgin broke own rules by releasing Corbyn CCTV, document shows | UK news | The Guardian

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5 Comments

  1. rockingbass August 29, 2016 at 5:23 am - Reply

    Has the Guardian had a
    chang of editor?

    • Mike Sivier August 29, 2016 at 2:47 pm - Reply

      Yes.

  2. Roland Laycock August 29, 2016 at 8:13 am - Reply

    Thats OK this is a counrty with a two stage legal system we all now that

  3. NMac August 29, 2016 at 9:03 am - Reply

    Is this being investigated by the Information Commissioner?

  4. plhepworth August 29, 2016 at 9:54 am - Reply

    …and since Virgin’s rules and procedures would presumably have been incorporated in its franchise agreement, the release of the images could constitute a breach of contract.

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