Boris Johnson and Mayor Sadiq Khan on Friday hailed the start of a “Great Return” into London as Tube figures showed more commuters already heading back to the city centre.
As Plan B restrictions were being ditched, with working from home guidance already gone, the Prime Minister said the capital could now “get back on its feet” after so many months of Covid misery. With parts of central London having resembled a ghost town during lockdowns, he told how it could look forward to “brighter days ahead”.
The Mayor emphasised that the capital’s reopening would reverse the “devastating decline” in the number of people coming into the city centre, which had dealt such a heavy blow to so many businesses.
However, he also warned Londoners against “complacency” in keeping Covid at bay, urging people to keep wearing a face mask on the Tube and other public transport, to test regularly and get vaccinated.
The Government ditched the working from home guidance on Wednesday and the wearing of masks in classrooms yesterday. They will no longer be legally required on the Tube, other public transport and in shops from next Thursday, when compulsory vaccine passports in nightclubs and some other venues will also be axed.
Mr Johnson told the Evening Standard: “As we begin to put Plan B restrictions behind us, it’s brilliant to see London getting back on its feet. This Government’s booster plan, aided by one of the biggest testing programmes in the world, has allowed us to be one of the most open economies in recent months and thanks to the millions who stepped up to get their third dose we can now go even further.”
He talked of “bustling high streets” and the “West End alive again”, adding: “We now have real cause to hope that brighter days lie ahead for our great city.” Mr Khan was also upbeat about the recovery but was keeping mask wearing as a condition of travel on Transport for London services.
He said: “As Covid restrictions ease, I’m encouraged to see the ‘Great Return’ beginning — with people getting back into central London to experience everything the capital has to offer, from catching up with colleagues in the office to enjoying our world-class culture and hospitality industries. The lifting of working from home guidance in particular is welcome news to businesses who have experienced a devastating decline in footfall after already being hit so hard by this pandemic.”
However, with confirmed Covid cases increasing to 14,774 in London on Thursday, he added: “We have learnt that we must not be complacent. Covid-19 is still with us and we must continue to take measures to protect our loved ones.”
Central London’s restaurants, sandwich shops, pubs, retailers and other venues were dealt huge economic blows by lockdowns and other Covid restrictions, which have kept many workers, tourists and other visitors away. However, there were already signs of more people heading into the city centre.
- There were 2.13 million Tube journeys on Thursday, up 10 per cent on last week, and 51 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
- Transport for London said there were 4.41 million bus journeys on Thursday, up four per cent in a week, and 73 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
- Up to 9am on Friday , there had been around 740,000 entry and exits on the Tube, up five per cent compared with last Friday.
Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, called for pubs, bars, theatres and hotels to be supported with 100 per cent business rates relief until the summer, freezing rail fares this year to encourage people into the city, and reinstating until the summer the emergency five per cent rate of VAT for hospitality, accommodation and attractions.
Meanwhile, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng took on union bosses as he called for people to “get back to work”. He said the country had to try to return to “some degree of normality” after Covid cases had fallen significantly from the peak of the Omicron wave.
Speaking on LBC Radio he added: “I speak to union leaders frequently and I think we should get back to work.”
He admitted that there were still only around half of the staff in the Business Department back in the office but said this would increase. Some union leaders have been resisting the moves to get more back into the office, with coronavirus infection levels still high.
Business chiefs, MPs and other experts say a series of measures were needed to revive London.
Nick Bowes, chief executive of the Centre for London, said short-term measures that were required included ongoing financial support to the hospitality sector, tax breaks or ongoing financial grants to theatres, arts and cultural attractions, and limiting fare increases to sustain demand for public transport.
Richard Burge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “We would like to see a 24-month phased withdrawal that would allow for the gradual reduction of current business support measures.
“This would include deferred tax, repayment of loans, business rates relief and an alteration of VAT levels to allow businesses to adjust over a period of time with a degree of assurance.”
