MR POTATO RED
Labour’s transport boss in bizarre TV interview which leaves him looking ‘like a potato’ because of bad internet signal
Andy McDonald used the wi-fi on his train carriage to give an interview to the BBC
A TOP ally of Jeremy Corbyn was today mocked after he ended up looking like a POTATO during a TV interview conducted via video link.
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald travelled north from London by train to highlight the 3.4 per cent hike in rail prices.
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During his journey he was repeatedly delayed and ended up spending two hours waiting for a train.
Once he was on his way to Middlesbrough, Mr McDonald gave the BBC an interview using his train's wi-fi connection.
But the video link was so bad it kept going out of focus - making Mr McDonald look like a blurry blob compared to a potato by some online wags - and pausing altogether.
Presenter Simon McCoy joked: "That word 'reconnecting', as soon as that appears you know you're in trouble."
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When the link cut out again, he added: "I've got that 'poor connection' again - I'm going to stick with it in the hope you reappear."
Mr McDonald continued as he blasted the Tories' record on the rail network, with ticket prices soaring higher than inflation.
He said: "It's really getting beyond a joke now, and I think people are really getting fed up at these increases in costs.
"I don't think people are experiencing an improvement in the system, I think the opposite is true."
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He took a potshot at Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who flew to Qatar on official business today despite the rise in rail fares.
The Labour official said: "Chris Grayling's in Qatar, I've got catarrh standing on the wet platform at Grantham."
Viewers reacted with hilarity to the bungled interview which lasted several minutes despite the repeated technical problems.
One joked: "The BBC just attempted to interview Andy McDonald on a train and it went very well."
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Another mocked Mr McDonald's closeness to the leftie Labour leader, tweeting: "Glad capitalism was able to allow you to speak to the BBC via your phone."
The shadow minister later poked fun at himself, calling himself "Mr Potato Head" in a light-hearted tweet.
The 3.4 per cent average rise in fares came in to force today for millions of commuters.