West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin has made mask-wearing compulsory for commuters inside all West Yorkshire bus stations.
The metro mayor has stipulated in a new order that all bus passengers must continue to cover their nose and mouth whilst travelling in West Yorkshire after July 19.
According to reports by Leeds Live, Brabin wants mask-wearing in public spaces to continue but only has the power to enforce this in bus stations.
The news comes amidst some confusion on what the new mask guidance will look like on Monday after senior officials appear to have backtracked on the initial "it is entirely voluntary" policy which was first announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week.
Since then, official language has been considerably toughened up: with ministers saying people will be “expected” to cover their faces in crowded indoor areas, such as on public transport and in shops.
Tracy Brabin on the election trail / Image: Facebook
There is a legal framework in place for rail and transit operators to make mask use a condition of travel, however, there is currently no basis in law for shop owners to bar the maskless - even if the shop owner is clinically vulnerable themselves.
Speaking on the new order in a statement, Tracy Brabin said: "The past 18 months has been incredibly hard for our West Yorkshire communities - no more so than for the vulnerable and for people who have tragically lost loved ones."
"This is why, today I am urging people across the region to wear a face mask on all of our public transport networks. I hope this will give encouragement to those who are vulnerable – such as those using public transport to attended chemotherapy appointments – to continue to travel on public transport."
The decision by Brabin in West Yorkshire follows a move by London mayor Sadiq Khan, which saw him ask Transport for London (TfL) to enforce the use of mask-wearing on buses and trains even after restrictions are lifted.
Wearing masks in public places has many benefits, especially for key workers in retail and on public transport who will be put at greater risk of exposure - which then could have a knock-on effect on services being canceled if staff test positive or have to self isolate.
First buses in new and old liveries, Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire / Image: Mtaylor848
A recent You Gov poll on mask-wearing also suggests that the order from Brabin will be well received, given that two-thirds of Britons said they wanted mask-wearing to continue after July 19.
"With that in mind, and with 71% of the public supportive of the continued use of face coverings, I am today mandating the use of face coverings across bus stations in West Yorkshire. Whilst I would like to go further to include buses and trains, we are doing what is in our power," Brabin added.
"I have been consistently clear with government - they have the power to mandate face masks across all transport networks and I would support them to make that decision as restrictions lift. While the vaccination roll out is impressive, we still have further to go with infections across West Yorkshire still high.
"We have come so far. Let’s stick together, support each other so places like West Yorkshire can recover and thrive."
Feature image: Tracy Brabin Facebook
News
Leeds Bradford Airport set for complete ‘shutdown’ as 130 workers go on strike
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Leeds Bradford Airport is very profitable and can more than afford to come back to the table with an offer that doesn't fall short of our members' expectations.
"Our hardworking members should not be paid less than those doing the same jobs at other airports. Workers taking action at Leeds Bradford Airport have Unite's full support in their fight for fairer pay."
Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker said: "We know people who have flights planned to and from Leeds Bradford Airport will be concerned to hear of industrial action, however our members have no choice but to strike.
"The airport is profitable, passenger numbers are growing and our members are a major part of its success. They deserve a fair pay rise, and management must come back to the table to deliver this."
Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer
Clementine Hall
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
Georgina Pellant -
14th July 2021 
