Calls for clarity over face masks on public transport
Report by Ann O'Connor.
Many organisations, and people who are vulnerable to infection, are appealing for us all to carry on wearing masks.
And mask-wearing is at the centre of a growing row between the Government and Metro Mayors in the North of England.
They want the power to enforce continued mask wearing on public transport.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced that face masks will be compulsory on all tram services in the area from Monday despite the lifting of restrictions next week.
That's because he has oversight powers over the Metrolink network.
But Liverpool's Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram says he is 'hitting brick walls' with bus companies and train operators in Merseyside.
They joined other elected mayors from across England to urge the Government to continue to make face coverings compulsory on all public transport beyond the lifting of restrictions next week.
The Labour metro mayors for West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North of Tyne, West of England and South Yorkshire said they would take steps to require or encourage the use of masks on local networks where their limited powers allowed it.
But they warned that without a continued national mandate there would be a "ridiculous mismatch" of rules across the country that will be "confusing" for passengers when measures are eased on Monday.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of Liverpool City Region, said Government policy on face coverings "illustrated perfectly" the "fragmented nature of public transport in this country".
Mr Rotheram said he was asking local transport operators to "do the right thing" and make masks still compulsory, but he was "hitting brick walls with our bus and train operators".
He added that "wearing face masks costs nothing" and represented a "minor inconvenience".
Speaking at a virtual press conference with their fellow mayors, Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "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 there was a need to think "in terms of collective safety, rather than individual freedom, or personal responsibility".
Mr Burnham said mayors wanted to see a "return to a more normal life" but this needed to be done "safely", with masks helping to protect people in enclosed environments.
Mr Burnham said he had been "inundated" with messages from people saying that July 19 "wouldn't be freedom day, it would be fear day and they would be forced off public transport".
He said Metrolink tram users would continue to have to wear face coverings as part of "the conditions of carriage", but unlike Mr Khan he did not have the same powers over buses and trains.
Those Metrolink passengers who are not exempt could be prevented from travelling or fined up to #100 if they do not wear a face covering.
In London, the face mask requirement will apply to journeys and stations on TfL services including the Tube, bus, tram, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Overground and TfL Rail.