‘They got away with that!’ Khan faced with Piers Corbyn mask video as mayor lays down law

November 30, 2021

Sadiq Khan reacts to Piers Corbyn’s actions on London tube

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Sadiq Khan was shown a video of Piers Corbyn and his supporters on the London Underground where they were heard chanting anti-mask songs and seen ripping off coronavirus stickers. The viral video was widely shared online with many ridiculing the low-budget film which compared wearing a mask to “keeping a fart in your trousers”. Mr Khan was asked to respond to the video after Sky News presenter Kay Burley suggested they had “gotten away with it” with the London mayor quickly laying down the law in a stern warning to the activists.

Footage shared on Twitter showed Mr Corbyn and a group of anti-maskers sitting on a London Tube before breaking out into song.

The group began chanting: “Wearing a mask is like trying to keep a fart in your trousers.”

Mr Corbyn could also be seen ripping off a mask sticker which asks passengers to consider wearing one.

From Tuesday, masks are now a condition of carriage for public transport with a £200 fine being issued if people are found breaking the rules.

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Mr Khan appeared on Sky News to address the video which mocked the UK Government and its attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The mayor responded: “I was at a public meeting in a town hall meeting last week and he and his friends disrupted that meeting as well.

“Up until early this morning, all we could do is ask him to leave public transport without the ability to issue fines.

“Because of the changes from the Government overnight, he would now be issued with a fine if he did that today and action would be taken against him.”

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Mr Khan explained the enforcement of punishments has the power to change behaviour as he noted many people would wear masks on the tube when there was a fine attached.

Host Kay Burley remarked the group had “gotten away” with their stunt as they would not face a fine because they did it before the new rules came into place.

Mr Khan said the law did not allow him to issue fines before but if they repeated it they would be held accountable.

The Labour mayor urged the Government to not play “hokey pokey” with the rules, meaning he did not want them to be quickly changed at the last minute.

He added: “Let’s keep it mandatory with the ability to back it up with police, with the ability to issue fines even in three weeks time.”

New rules came into place early Tuesday with the public now required to wear masks in shops and public transport following the discovery of the Omicron variant in the UK.

The new rules in England bring them in line with Scotland and Wales who have continued to wear masks in public spaces.

Police and TfL officers will be able to issue on the spot fines of £200, rising to £400 for a second offence.

However, the new rules have split the public as hospitality venues are exempt from mask-wearing and the Managing Director of Iceland, Richard Walker, said they would not enforce the rule in their stores.

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