The Shadow Home Secretary was spotted drinking a small can of the rum-based cocktail on her train home through her constituency in North London last Saturday. But BBC host Andrew Neil responded to the revelation while hosting BBC This Week and said: “It’s late, Diane Abbott mojito late. Because it’s never too late, or too early in her case, for a sneaky Karl Marx, as in Marks and Sparks cocktail in a can.

Some folks have no understanding of the strain involved in being one of Jezza the red’s shadow cabinet

Andrew Neil

“Yes, the former regular resident of the This Week sofa was caught sipping a lunchtime cocktail from a tinny on London transport for Easter.

“She has clearly come a long way since necking warm Blue Nun out of a plastic cup.

“Spoilsports were quick to point out that alcohol is forbidden on the capital’s rail network.

“And dear Diane thought it was wise to apologise for her surreptitious bevvy.

“Some folks have no understanding of the strain involved in being one of Jezza the red’s shadow cabinet. Apparently, two others are having Buckfast for breakfast.”

A passenger said: “She kept her head down and was staring at her phone but kept slurping from the can. It was 1pm, so a bit early to be drinking — especially in public.”

Another added: “There are clear signs up in the carriages which say alcohol is banned. She was lucky there wasn’t an inspector on board.”

However, there were no signs the Labour MP was drunk or in any way incapacitated.

Transport for London (TfL) introduced an alcohol ban on all public transport in the capital in 2008.

A spokesman for TfL said passengers found consuming alcohol on trains or buses could be fined or arrested.

Ms Abbott said she was “sincerely sorry” for drinking the Marks & Spencer cocktail.

She wrote on Twitter: “A photo of me drinking from a can of M&S mojito on the Overground has been circulated.

“I’m sincerely sorry for drinking on TFL.”

Ms Abbott received several supportive messages in reply to her tweet, with one Twitter user writing: “I’m sincerely sorry you feel the need to say sorry Dianne and i hope you really enjoyed the drink it’s no one’s business but yours.”

Another said: “Put it in a water bottle next time.”

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