What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour is calling for Richard Branson to be stripped of his knighthood following his bid to humiliate Jeremy Corbyn over Traingate.

Writing exclusively in the Sunday Mirror, Shadow Chancellor John ­McDonnell slams the Virgin billionaire as a “tax exile who thinks he can try and intervene and ­undermine our democracy”.

He brands fatcats who avoid paying full UK tax as “freeloaders” who are shirking their “public duty” – also singling out shamed rag trade tycoon Sir Philip Green .

And calling for a radical overhaul of the honours system, he adds: “Run off to tax exile if you want. But you leave your titles and your honours behind when you go.”

(Image: Getty)

The row between Mr Corbyn and Mr Branson flared up last week when the Labour leader was pictured sitting on the floor of a Virgin train, claiming he could not find a seat.

Mr Branson – injured in a high-speed cycle smash – released CCTV images that appeared to show Mr Corbyn passing empty seats.

Mr Corbyn suggested he acted for political reasons, adding: “I hope he’s aware of our policy, which is that train operating companies should become part of the public realm not the private sector.”

The images are being probed by the ICO under the Data Protection Act.

In 2013, it was reported that Mr Branson was moving to his Carribean home on Necker Island permanently and would no longer pay tax on personal income.

There is no suggestion he is doing anything wrong as tax avoidance or minimisation is legal, while tax evasion is not.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Meanwhile, Mr McDonnell insists Green should also lose his knighthood after being “condemned by other British buisnessmen for his actions over BHS”.

Green’s wife, Lady Green, is the nominal owner of his businesses and lives in Monaco – one of the world’s most notorious tax havens.

Mr McDonnell says: “Why should Philip Green, who ran BHS into the ground and paid his wife in Monaco £1billion to avoid UK tax, be honoured with a ‘Sir’?

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"The whole honours system is cheapened when freeloaders like Green are given awards.”

Green, who was knighted in 2006, has faced heavy criticism over the fall of BHS and been dubbed Sir Philip Greed.

The final BHS stores close their doors tomorrow. On top of the loss of 11,000 jobs, staff face a £571million pensions deficit.

(Image: Getty)

A scathing report by the Work and Pensions Committee said during Green’s 15-year reign ­“significantly” more cash left the company than was invested in it.

The report – attacked by the tycoon as “biased and unfair” – also alleges he and his family extracted more than £300million before selling the business to Dominic Chappell, a thrice-bankrupt former racing driver with no retail experience, for £1.

John McDonnell

It’s time to take control of our honours system. We want to make sure all those who make a real contribution to our society get the recognition they deserve.

(Image: Ian Vogler/Sunday People)

It’s not just about recognising the huge contribution our artists or sportsmen and women or other well-known figures make.

It’s about recognising unsung heroes who keep our public services running, or devote a lifetime to local communities. It’s our way of collectively saying someone has given back to society.

But the whole purpose of the honours system is undermined when the rich and the powerful can collect their gongs without giving anything back. It’s even worse when tax exiles are given honours.

Why should Philip Green, who ran BHS into the ground and paid his wife in Monaco £1 billion to avoid UK tax, be honoured with a “Sir”? The whole honours system is cheapened when freeloaders like Green are given awards.

It’s time Parliament got to grips with this. We need proper oversight through Parliament of the honours system, not one where it is too easy for a Prime Minister to hand out favours to mates.

And tax exiles should not be allowed to keep the privilege of an honour or a title.

It should be a simple choice for the mega-rich.

Run off to tax exile if you want.

But you leave your titles and your honours behind when you go.