Responding to TfL data showing that Tube travel is down by an additional third compared to yesterday, Leader of the London Assembly Labour Group, Len Duvall AM, said:
“The messaging from City Hall has been very clear and consistent – Londoners should follow the instructions of the Government and stay at home unless they are a key worker. Today’s figures show that Londoners are listening to that message and acting responsibly. Of course, we need more to do the same, because keeping transport free for the sole use of key workers will protect everybody’s health, but particularly those we will rely on most during this crisis.
“I am appalled at the political attacks on the Mayor of London that have come as a result of Matt Hancock’s false statement yesterday that Tubes can run at full capacity. The insincerity of that statement is laid bare by the fact the Mayor has been telling Ministers for days that TfL cannot run full services because of the levels of staff that are off sick or are self-isolating.
“We must remember, this attack comes from those that removed TfL funding and these services were overstretched before this crisis happened. Public services are being tested beyond their limits, beyond even what would be expected in this crisis, because they’ve been diminished by a decade of cuts.”
Notes to editors
- Data of TfL’s early-morning data from the Mayor of London suggests that Tube ridership is down by an additional third compared to yesterday, and bus travel down an additional 20 per cent;
- Tube ridership was already 88 per cent down compared to the same day last year, and bus ridership 76 per cent down;
- Len Duvall is the London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham