Recently, I was travelling on the last train from London heading up north on a Saturday night. Not an environment I looked forward to, or a train I would have chosen, but needs must(ed). I paid extra to upgrade to first class, to increase the chance of getting a seat and some separation from the general atmosphere of chaos.

The carriage layout was such that a lot of people got on at one end and walked all the way through first class on their way to standard class. Before we got going, there were regular announcements:

• If you do not have a first class ticket, you must sit in standard class.
• You must sit in your reserved seat.
• If you don’t have a reserved seat, you might have to stand.
• The included refreshments you get in first class will not be served until after tickets have been inspected.

In summary: know your place.

One group walked through and said loudly: “We’re working class. These seats aren’t for us. We don’t vote Conservative.”

I avoided eye contact.