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Tory MP apologises after he is pictured on train without mask

Danny Kruger is the MP for Devizes
Danny Kruger is the MP for Devizes
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

A Conservative MP close to Boris Johnson has apologised after he was pictured on a train without a face mask, less than two weeks after urging his constituents to wear one on public transport.

Danny Kruger, elected last year after leaving his job as Mr Johnson's political secretary, said he "forgot" to wear a face covering on an hour-long rail journey from Hungerford to London.

A Twitter user posted a photo with the caption: "Don't blame it on the young people, Boris, when your own party aren't even following your rules."

Mr Kruger told The Telegraph: "I boarded an almost empty carriage at Hungerford and quite simply forgot to put on my mask.

"When I got to Paddington, I realised my mistake and covered up for the rest of my journey. If the person had reminded me rather than taking a photo and posting it on social media, I would of course have put on my mask then and there. I do apologise for my mistake."

Mr Kruger was pictured on September 18, less than two weeks after telling his constituents they "MUST" wear a mask in a Facebook post.

"As schools, colleges and offices reopen, more and more people will be thinking about heading back to public transport," he wrote.

"From today, train operators are adding more services back into timetables. If, like me, you are already using the train, or are thinking of it, remember: you MUST wear a face covering (unless you are exempt)."

Great Western Rail, which operates the train line between Hungerford and Paddington, says passengers can be fined £100 for not wearing a face covering on its services.

Mr Kruger, the MP for Devizes, is a close ally of both Mr Johnson and Dominic Cummings. He previously worked as a speechwriter for David Cameron.