England political leaders ask for masks to remain on public transport

Mayors and political leaders across England have called for face masks to remain on public transport, despite coronavirus rules easing next week.

Almost all Covid-19 restrictions are set to be removed on 19 July.

Mayors including Greater Manchester's Andy Burnham and West Midlands' Andy Street have urged passengers to continue wearing face coverings.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has declared masks mandatory on public transport in the capital.

But Mr Khan, unlike his counterparts across England, has the power to make it compulsory.

Mr Burnham said masks would still be required on Greater Manchester's Metrolink tram network as part of a condition of carriage.

He said he did not have power over buses or trains but urged people to continue wearing masks as an "act of solidarity".

He said he had been inundated with messages from vulnerable people describing 19 July as "fear day" rather than "freedom day", and it was "not right" that they should be "forced off" public transport.

West Yorkshire's mayor Tracy Brabin and Dan Jarvis in South Yorkshire have ordered the use of face coverings to continue in the county's bus stations and encouraged their use on public transport.

Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham said he was asking all transport operators to enforce mask-wearing.

"I'll be asking all of them to do the right thing," he said.

Wearing face masks "costs nothing" and they were a "minor inconvenience", he added.

Meanwhile, in the North East, council leaders have called for similar powers to those of the London mayor.

North of Tyne's mayor Jamie Driscoll said coronavirus was "still a dangerous disease" and the government should "reverse its decision".

He added: "You wouldn't make the speed limit voluntary."

Mr Street said he does not have the power to make face coverings mandatory across all modes of public transport, but called on passengers to "join in this collective effort", adding Transport for West Midlands staff would be handing out face masks after 19 July.

The government has previously said masks were still "expected and recommended" in crowded indoor areas, but people will not be required by law to wear them from Monday.

Ms Brabin repeated a call for the government to mandate the use of face masks across all public transport networks, saying 71% of people supported their continued use.

West of England Mayor Dan Norris said he had written to the prime minister to complain about the "ridiculous" decision not to enforce mask-wearing.

The North East in particular has seen a rapid rise in infection rates in recent weeks and Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, has written to the government saying masks could help tackle this.

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said: "I hate face masks, but I do know that wearing one limits the spread of Covid and saves lives.

"Freedom is in sight, but we just need one last push before the worst is finally behind us."

The Greater Anglia train company, which operates services across the south and east of England, said it would continue to ask passengers to wear face coverings during busy times.

In Scotland, the mandatory use of face coverings will remain in place for "some time", First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said, even after the country eases most of its other restrictions on 19 July.

In Wales, masks will continue to be required by law in some settings, including public transport.

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