Following the George Osborne train ticket story I received an email from a Virgin customer who told me on her recent trip to London the ticket inspector announced that he intended to check the tickets of all first class passengers just in case they were sitting in the wrong section which, apparently, caused much laughter.

Fortunately Virgin has a good sense of humour. I have no objection to a government minister travelling first class but having booked a standard class ticket surely George knew how it would appear if he occupied a first class seat?

You can’t go around the country preaching frugality and togetherness then consider standard class travel beneath you.

Surely the ill-tempered rant from Andrew Mitchell as he berated a police officer for simply asking him to use a side gate in Downing Street said it all. Apparently a diversion of 15 yards was enough to send the Tory Chief Whip into an apoplectic fit. Such ‘inconvenience’ is for others not for the high and haughty.

There is no humility in politics today. We once had politicians of real conviction who dedicated their lives to serving the people rather than themselves. So, what happened?

They’ve all gone, by George.