The Transport Secretary has told MPs he is “very relaxed” about public transport operators imposing their own COVID-related rules – including the use of face masks beyond 19 July.
Speaking during a Transport Committee evidence session yesterday, transport secretary Grant Shapps said that individual companies could implement travel restrictions beyond the government’s final stage of lockdown easing if they wished.
He confirmed that he will not be issuing any “blanket instructions” to operators instructing them to keep COVID-safety measures in place.
The announcement by the transport secretary comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the nation in a live Downing Street news conference on Monday that there will be no more legal requirements on the wearing of face coverings in shops or on public transport beyond the final stage of lockdown easing.
Rules on social distancing measures, mass gathering, and more are also set to change.
The wearing of a face covering will not be a legal requirement on public transport from 19 July / Credit: Flickr | Geograph (David Dixon)
The decision to remove the legal requirement to wear face coverings in public settings beyond 19 July has been met with significant criticism from unions and opposing parties – most prominently, Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
Following the Prime Minister’s address on Monday, Mr Burnham took to Twitter to question the decision regarding face masks, stating: “I struggle to see how ministers can drop the requirement to wear masks on public transport without causing real problems for some people who are dependent on it.
“Those more vulnerable to infection or anxious about it will be put in a very unfair position.
“Rethink needed?”
I struggle to see how Ministers can drop the requirement to wear masks on public transport without causing real problems for some people who are dependent on it.
Those more vulnerable to infection or anxious about it will be put in a very unfair position.
Mr Burnham also addressed the decision at length during his own press conference on Tuesday.
He confirmed that he will be working with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) over the coming days to encourage people to do the “respectful thing”.
“I will ask people to put themselves in the shoes of somebody who is going by bus to have chemotherapy [and] I will ask people to put themselves in the shoes of somebody who has a compromised immune system,” Mr Burnham said.
🗣️”I will ask people to put themselves in the shoes of somebody who is going by bus to have chemotherapy. I will ask people to put themselves in the shoes of somebody who has a compromised immune system.”
— Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (@MayorofGM) July 6, 2021
But Mr Shapps defended the government’s plans to remove the legal requirements on face coverings, requesting that people use “common sense and personal responsibility” as “entirely sensible”.
“We are shifting to this next phase where people use common sense and personal responsibility to decide these things and I think that is actually a sensible way forwards,” he told MPs at the committee hearing.
“If organisations require it to be a condition of carriage then I am very relaxed about that and it is up to them to do.”
Mr Shapps added: “I am not planning to issue any blanket instructions to the train operating companies because they are so different depending on the routes across the country.”
He also suggested that it would be “sensible” to wear a mask on busy trains.
The Transport Secretary will not be issuing any “blanket instructions” to operators / Credit: Network Rail
“Look, if you are travelling – and I travel on all types of transport, on all types of trains – if you are travelling on the underground and it is pretty packed then wearing a face covering may well be helpful and increase confidence,” he continued.
“And standing right next to somebody, I think that is something that I’d want to do and transport operators are free to require it.”
He added: “On the other hand, if you are travelling on a pretty empty carriage at an unpopular time of day to travel for three hours on a mainline or something, then it is pretty pointless in that circumstance to be potentially sat there on your own wearing a mask.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
‘Inspirational’ PR firm founder named as woman killed by falling tree branch in Didsbury
Emily Sergeant
A woman who was sadly killed by a falling tree branch in Didsbury a couple of weekends back has now been named locally.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police were called out to Barlow Moor Road, at the junction with Stanton Avenue in West Didsbury, on Saturday 30 August 30, and when they arrived on the scene, they found that a woman tragically died – all despite the best efforts of emergency services involved.
Manchester Coroners’ Court has confirmed a file relating to the woman’s death has been received.
She has now been named as 49-year-old Jennifer Higgins, who was known as Jen professionally and to friends and family.
Jen was the founder and joint managing director of respected Manchester-based PR firm, Carousel PR, which she launched back in 2011 and ran alongside her husband Gawen Higgins, leading a team of more than 20 staff.
Barlow Moor Road, near the junction with Stanton Avenue, where the tragic incident occurred / Credit: Google Maps
Carousel has worked with countless major local, national, and international clients over the years, and is well-known within Manchester.
In a statement and tribute to her passing, Jen’s family said: “The family of Jen Higgins are heartbroken to confirm she lost her life in a sudden and tragic accident. She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, and aunt – a vibrant and supportive friend to many, and a dynamic and widely respected member of the Manchester business community.
“You will no doubt empathise with the deep and profound shock we are feeling at this moment and ask for privacy while we grieve.”
The family also indicated that a further statement will be issued when they ‘feel able’ to do so.
Jen is described in her biography on the Carousel PR website as a ‘multi-tasker extraordinaire with an enviable contact list’, as well as being a fan of live music and travel – a passion which she was lucky enough to be able to bring into Carousel.
An inquest into Jen’s death is due to open at Manchester Coroners’ Court on 23 September.
Featured Image – Carousel PR
News
Spanish journalist rubbishes reports of Barcelona debating ending Marcus Rashford’s loan deal early
Danny Jones
Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué has come out to rubbish reports that FC Barcelona have been considering ending Marcus Rashford’s loan deal early.
The well-known football reporter, who regularly works with the likes of Sky Sports, CBS Sports, BBC and more, is one of many to have publicly decried false claims made about the Manchester United loanee, who joined the La Liga giants at the start of this summer.
Barca themselves are also said to have quashed the rumours, with Balagué’s quotes having now been widely circulated online.
Speaking via X over the weekend, the 56-year-old put it simply: that the rumblings are nonsense, reassuring that the club have plenty of faith in his abilities.
Absolutely rubbish that Barcelona is planning to end up early @MarcusRashford loan deal
Barça told his representative that they have a lot of confidence in Rashford’s potential and that they believe he will recover as a top player
As you can see, the Catalan-born RCD Espanyol fan also chose to publicly align himself with former England footballer, Gary Lineker, who has suggested that a targeted and discriminatory narrative against Rashford has developed in recent years.
Though he didn’t state it verbatim, Balagué added: “No more to say, apart from the fact I agree with Gary Lineker and his treatment by some media.”
In case you were unaware of what he’s precisely referring to, Lineker said in a chat with the Man United forward on his The Rest Is Football podcast that he believes Rashford “wouldn’t face the same criticism if he was white.”
Having also made the move from Britain to Barcelona back in 1986 (spending a total of three seasons there), the 64-year-old knows plenty about adjusting from playing in one country to another.
You can see the interview in full here.
The interview was conducted shortly after Rashford’s loan deal was completed, and he had plenty to say about his boyhood team.
Responding to Balagué’s social media post, one commenter wrote: “This nonsense is coming from racist journalists in England who refuse to leave [Rashford] alone. They bullied him when he was in England, especially during times when he seemed unhappy.
“Now, these haters have followed him to Barcelona. Rashford is one of the kindest players in the world, but these clowns just won’t let him live his life in peace.”
It is worth noting, however, that the original reports in question and ultimately aggregated by media across Europe and here in the UK come from a domestic outlet, El Nacional.
While he is yet to rediscover the form of his peak years in United red at the Camp Nou, he is now entering what are traditionally seen as the ‘prime’ period in a footballer’s career and did show more positive signs on loan at Aston Villa during the second half of the previous campaign.
At 27, there is still plenty of time to turn things around; that being said, after being brought back into the national team and with his parent club holding an option to buy clause for around a reported £20 million, the question remains whether he will be returning to Old Trafford at the end of the term. Speaking of…
The Manc -
8th July 2021 
