Earlier this week, it was reported that a number of Conservative politicians criticised the new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for failing to attend England's opening game of the Rugby World Cup.
The Sun Nation reported London Mayor Boris Johnson said "it looks like he’s snubbing the rugby in case he has to sing the anthem. Come on Jezza: Scrum down for England".
A number of other politicians also criticised Mr Corbyn for failing to attend the event, The Telegraph reported.
The criticisms followed the controversy surrounding Mr Corbyn not singing the national anthem at a Battle of Britain commemoration service.
However it transpires the Labour leader may have had a very good for not attending the rugby match...
"This is turning into a national joke. Come on Jezza, scrum down for England" says @MayorofLondon. He was at work. pic.twitter.com/9u7u3qyuuu
— Máire McSorley (@MaireMcSorley) September 19, 2015
The Mirror reports that he had a private meeting arranged with a constituent.
Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn has stepped down as chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, on the day it reprinted a poem accusing the Queen of profiting from conflict.
The Labour leader's decision came five hours after the campaigning group published an excerpt of "Royal Babylon: The Criminal Record of the British Monarchy" by poet Heathcote Williams.
In it, Williams claims the Royal Family "lubricates Britain’s wars" and accuses the Queen of heading a "military-monarchy complex" – a "cynical industry" which enriches the Windsors.
The Sunday Telegraph claims senior Labour figures have criticised the sentiments expressed in the poem.
It quotes Kevan Jones, the shadow defence minister, as saying: "This slur on the Queen will be highly offensive to members of our Armed Forces and many ordinary Labour voters.
"I am sure these are not the views of Jeremy Corbyn but it is time he distanced himself from some of the more extreme elements of the anti-war coalition," he said.
Mr Corbyn's spokesman said his decision to quit as chairman was entirely unrelated to the poem.
He told Sky News: "It was always agreed that if Jeremy was selected (as Labour leader) he would step down in a number of roles, one of which was chairman of the Stop The War Coalition.
"This is due to the number of engagements and commitments that come with being the leader of the Opposition."
The group's website has also published a personal explanation from Mr Corbyn on his decision to leave the role.
The leader says his new job requires his "undivided attention", but also said the coalition "represents the very best in British political campaigning, and its cause of opposing war, upholding civil liberties and resisting Islamophobia will remain my cause".
