Musicians are calling for a ban on buskers playing the London Underground to be lifted with immediate effect. Transport for London (TfL) closed buskers pitches across the Tube until the Queen's funeral.
TfL said the pitches would be closed as many of the stations would likely be overcrowded as members of the public travelled to the capital to pay their respects to the Queen. However, the Musicians' Union (MU) has called for the ban to be lifted.
Jamie Pullman, MU London Regional Organiser, said: “The MU has been in contact with many musicians who have been denied an opportunity to earn a living and wholeheartedly support their view that they should be allowed to continue to busk on the Underground. Given that music plays such a central role in national events - royal weddings and now the funeral of the Queen, it is absurd to suggest that it is a disrespectful activity. Busking went ahead safely during the recent Jubilee celebrations, so we believe that concerns about overcrowding are overstated.”
