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Paper Monitor

12:44 UK time, Monday, 17 October 2011

A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.

Trains have a habit of humbling UK prime ministers.

One apocryphal anecdote has Stanley Baldwin travelling by train when a fellow-passenger asks the then-occupant of No 10 whether he was at Harrow in 1884.

"I was indeed," Baldwin replies. "Thought so," says the other passenger, "But tell me, what are you doing now?"

Paper Monitor is reminded of this tale after reading today's Daily Mail. It features a recent arrival to the UK from India, who failed to recognise David Cameron when he approached her on the London Underground to compliment her on her baby.

When Ms Mayer's husband told her the man in question was the prime minister, she initially failed to believe him:

"But my husband insisted so I went up to Mr Cameron and I said: 'Excuse me, are you the Prime Minister?'

"He said 'yes' and I started laughing. Then I apologised for having to ask him the question."

The article recalls an occasion in 1999 when Tony Blair was ignored by a tube passenger whom he attempted to engage in conversation.

It also notes that "singer Rihanna caused a stir when she was spotted travelling on the Underground last week".

No mention of Stanley Baldwin, however.

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