Mayors demand face masks remain compulsory on public transport after July 19

14 July 2021, 19:12 | Updated: 15 July 2021, 00:47

Regional mayors have called for masks to remain mandatory on public transport
Regional mayors have called for masks to remain mandatory on public transport. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Passengers will still need to wear masks on public transport and stations in parts of England after July 19 following interventions from regional mayors.

Six local leaders have demanded the Government keep face masks compulsory on public transport as Sadiq Khan said Londoners will still need to use them - though their powers could result in a hodgepodge of face mask rules.

There will no longer be a legal requirement to wear masks after July 19's 'Freedom Day' unlocking in England but Boris Johnson has said they should be worn in some situations.

Mr Khan, the mayor of London, has said he will make mask-wearing a condition of carriage on Transport for London services after Monday.

Read more: People 'expected to wear masks' indoors in England after 19 July - minister

Read more: Sadiq Khan: Vast majority of Londoners support compulsory face masks on transport

But Labour mayors of West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North of Tyne, West of England and Sheffield City Region said their abilities to enforce mask-wearing is limited.

Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham pointed out he could mandate them on the Metrolink tram service but not on buses.

He said he feared for the clinically most vulnerable, who he worried may be forced off public transport altogether if they face having to travel with people who don't wear masks in enclosed spaces.

Sadiq Khan quizzed over enforcement of mask policy by bus driver

"We remain of the view that the best solution is for the Government to maintain a requirement of face coverings on all modes of public transport and we call on them, even at this stage, to return to that position," he said on Wednesday.

"Unlike the mayor of London, we do not have the same powers over buses and trams, but we believe the requirement on our trams will help increase the use of face coverings on other transport modes."

He added that people need to "think in terms of collective safety rather than individual freedom or personal responsibility".

Read more: Ben Kentish challenges PM on plan to scrap mandatory face masks

Read more: Face masks: Everything you need to know about new rules from July 19

Earlier, Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said face masks will still need to be worn in bus stations operated by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

But her powers do not allow her to extend that to buses and trains.

"With 71% of the public supportive of the continued use of face coverings, I am today mandating the use of face coverings across bus stations in West Yorkshire," she said.

"Whilst I would like to go further to include buses and trains, we are doing what is in our power.

Boris Johnson admits a face mask in confined spaces is 'common sense'

"I have been consistently clear with Government, they have the power to mandate face masks across all transport networks and I would support them to make that decision as restrictions lift."

The bus station mandate will also be implemented in South Yorkshire's combined authority-operated stations, where mayor Dan Jarvis said: "A national mandate would without a doubt be more effective and create less confusion for passengers and fewer challenges for staff."

Transport North East said it will require face coverings for commuters on the Metro system while West of England mayor Dan Norris said he did not have the powers to force mask-wearing on public transport.

But he asked Boris Johnson to keep them compulsory.

Conservative West Midlands mayor Andy Street said he could not implement a mandate for face coverings and said any change in the law would have to come from the Government.

He said that Transport for West Midlands expected passengers to keep wearing masks.

Boris Johnson said previously that "guidance will suggest where you might choose (to wear masks), especially when cases are rising and where you come into contact with people you don't normally meet in enclosed spaces, such as of course, crowded public transport".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Used E-Cigarette

Disposable vapes banned from Sunday in bid to improve health and cut 'avalanche' of litter

EuroMillions - Photo Illustration

Lucky EuroMillions winner could snatch up £199m jackpot in UK record

Loretta Swit presents a tribute to 'Mr. Rogers' at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on April 29, 2018

M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dies aged 87

The study is funded by the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, a charity set up in the name of the Girls Aloud singer who died of breast cancer aged 39

Study led by Sarah Harding's doctor could see NHS offer breast cancer checks to women in their thirties

Exclusive
A prison officer was stabbed with a weapon that may have been delivered to Long Lartin prison by a drone.

Prison officer stabbed with weapon 'likely sent in by drone', union chief tells LBC News as he warns 'it's a risk every shift'

White House AI Hack Triggers Global Security Fears as Voice-Cloning Threat Grows

White House AI voice-cloning hack spark security fears as deepfake of Trump's Chief of Staff triggers global alarm

Sanitation workers load rubbish into an automatic garbage truck in Long Island, New York

Man found dead 'buried under rubbish' after bin he was sleeping in was emptied into bin lorry

Chinese President Xi Jinpingmeets with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

China hits back at Trump after he accuses it of 'totally violating' tariff agreement

Trump has responded to a question from a reporter about the Macrons

‘Not good’: Trump responds to question about video of Macron being 'slapped across face' by wife Brigitte

Levi Bancroft, 22,  was sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Southwark Crown Court for four counts of rape involving three victims

Serial rapist, 22, who raped two 'vulnerable' teenage girls and a transgender woman sentenced to life in prison

Screengrab from CCTV footage showing Jay McGinty, 37, at the entrance to Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair.

Man caught trying to steal jewels worth £190k from Claridge’s Hotel using smoke grenades and sledgehammer jailed

Daily Life In Richmond Hill

Toxic pesticide linked to cancer discovered in tampons at levels 40 times above legal limit for drinking water

Exclusive
Lord Hermer and Sir Keir Starmer

'Out of touch': Attorney General slammed for comparing ECHR doubters to Nazis

Exclusive
The UK’s Oldest Man, Donald Rose aged 110, has been given the ‘Freedom of The Borough’ in Derbyshire.

UK’s oldest man given ‘Freedom of The Borough’ for service in World War 2

Aerial view of Long Lartin High Security Prison near Evesham in Worcestershire.

Prison officer, 25, airlifted to hospital after being stabbed by inmate at high-security prison

Royal Terrace Pier Gravesend

Search for girl missing in River Thames suspended - boy pulled from water treated in hospital