Great train snobbery! Osborne embarrassment after sitting in first class with standard-class ticket It's been dubbed the 'great train snobbery' or just simply class warfare. George Osborne was today facing acute embarrassment after he was caught demanding to be allowed to sit in a first class train carriage with a standard class ticket. The Chancellor boarded the Virgin train to London at his constituency stop of Wilmslow with an aide and two standard class tickets. But rather than turn to sit in the second class carriage Mr Osborne went right and took his place in the more salubrious and less crowded first class carriage. And there he remained until he was accosted by a ticket inspector who demanded Mr Osborne pay the £160 surcharge for first class. The proceeding contratante might never have come to light if it had not been for an eagle eared television journalist who happened to be sat nearby. Rachel Townsend tweeted: "Very interesting train journey to Euston Chancellor George Osborne just got on at Wilmslow with a STANDARD ticket and he has sat in FIRST CLASS." Moments later she continued: "His aide tells ticket collector he cannot possibly move and sit with the likes of us in standard class and requests he is allowed to remain in First Class. And then: "Ticket collector refuses." And finally: "George Osborne pays £160 to stay in first class!" The timing of the incident could not be worse for the Chancellor or the Government. It comes just weeks after Andrew Mitchell abused a police officer for refusing to open the gate of Downing Street for his bike. Mr Osborne's spokesman was not returning calls this afternoon. Questioned about the incident at Euston station this afternoon Mr Osborne refused to comment.