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.
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.”
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.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1529060/Sadiq-Khan-piers-corbyn-mask-tube-underground-transport-london-sky-news-latest-vn
