Our leaders finally get message about travelling by Tube

Cabinet ministers today answered the Evening Standard’s call to show that London’s public transport is safe by being seen on the Tube.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps led the way by issuing pictures of themselves in face masks and suits while heading to Westminster.

Minister for London Paul Scully tweeted a snap riding home on a train last night, and former Tory vice-chairman for women Maria Caulfield tweeted a picture on the Tube.

They stepped up to the plate after the Standard appealed for politicians to give a lead to nervous passengers by going public with their daily trips around the capital.

Pictures also emerged of Mayor Sadiq Khan travelling by Tube. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey were first to respond to the call, using the Underground to attend a launch.

This morning Mr Hancock issued a photo of himself walking through the Underground station at Victoria to jump on the District line.

Mr Shapps, a regular train passenger from his Hertfordshire constituency, tweeted a picture of himself standing on the Jubilee line.

He said: “A smooth three-train journey with very high face covering compliance all round. Only one person on my carriage not wearing one.

"No idea if exempt or not as they were the opposite end.

"Best advice I can give is to challenge respectfully or stay two metres away from them but the network overall is fine.”

Mr Scully, a daily user of the Underground and the railway, tweeted: “No problem socially distancing on my @SW_Railway train.

"Back home in good time to finish off the last of my work tonight #LondonIsOpen.”

A reader took a snap of Mayor Sadiq Khan reading the Standard while riding home on the Underground yesterday.

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