The ‘train tinny’ has been hailed a British institution in defence of Diane Abbott after the shadow Home Secretary was photographed drinking an M&S mojito on a London Overground train.
Abbott apologised after pictures emerged of her drinking on a TFL train yesterday afternoon.
Boris Johnson banned alcohol on London services in 2008 when he was mayor of London.
At the time he said: “I firmly believe that banning the drinking of alcohol on London’s public transport will create a better travelling environment for all Londoners and that if we drive out antisocial behaviour and so-called minor crime then we will be able to get a firm grip on more serious crime.”
But there has been a surge of solidarity since the news broke, with many people hailing the ‘train tinny’ as a British institution.
Labour MP, David Lammy, replied to her tweet, saying: “Sorry for what? Why wasn’t the rum Jamaican.”
And Metro writer Ellen Scott declared that the train tinny is a vital part of British culture in this piece.
Other people have even taken to ranking M&S drink mixers – which are widely available at British train stations.
We pick the best of the reactions below:
