Richard Branson U-turns on decision to ban Daily Mail from Virgin Trains after public outcry
The billionaire boss personally stepped in to halt the ban, and has instructed the sales team to conduct a review of its policies
BILLIONAIRE Richard Branson has U-turned on his decision to ban the Daily Mail from sale on Virgin Trains after a public outcry.
The company's founder and owner announced this morning that the firm would "reconsider" the move.
He tweeted this morning that he valued "freedom of speech, freedom of choice and tolerance for differing views".
he claimed the move was "not part of some grand campaign" - and he wasn't even aware of the decision until he read reports in the media.
The Daily Mail will be stocked on Virgin West Coast train services again while the firm takes a "full review of their sales policy".
Branson said that he didn't want to be seen to be "moralising on behalf of others" or "seen to be censoring what our customers read and influencing their freedom of choice".
"While Virgin Trains has always said that their passengers are free to read whatever newspaper they choose on board West Coast trains, it is clear that on this occasion the decision to no longer sell The Mail has not been seen to live up to these principles," he added.
Last week the firm announced they would not sell the paper on board any of their trains, or give it out to first-class customers, after staff complained about its coverage of issues such as immigration.
It said that the newspaper was "not compatible" with its beliefs - causing public outcry.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson slammed the move, saying it was "absurd, pompous and wrong".
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The Society of Editors said that the decision "smacks of censorship".
Downing Street said the move was a decision for Virgin Trains, but that Theresa May had "always been clear on the importance of a free press to our democracy".
And even Jeremy Corbyn said that the tabloid would be sold on trains if he ever got the chance to nationalise the network.
A spokesperson for the Mail today welcomed the u-turn.
They said: "We welcome Sir Richard Branson and Brian Souter's support for freedom of speech, which is a cornerstone of our democracy, and his decision to instruct Virgin Trains to restock the Mail.
"We are sure the many Mail readers who travel on Virgin Trains will be delighted."