Mayor is right to withdraw Tube Safety leaflet

1.03.00pm GMT Wed 16th Nov 2005

Following a question from Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Sally Hamwee about Transport for London's leaflet "Tube Tips for Women" at this morning's Mayor's Question Time, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone admitted that now he had had the leaflet drawn to his attention, he had ordered its withdrawal from circulation.

"Safety is an important issue for all Londoners using the public transport network" said Sally Hamwee, "but this leaflet was sexist and patronising and the Mayor is right to order its withdrawal"

"Transport for London should produce information campaigns and action that don't use outdated stereotypes, reflect a 21st century capital city and help passengers wherever they might live or travel. I hope that TfL's marketing people will now go away and reassess how they serve Londoners."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

This morning Sally Hamwee asked the Mayor:

'Tube Tips for Women' Leaflet

Question No: 2109 / 2005

Sally Hamwee

Would the recently produced TfL leaflet 'Tube Tips for Women', which every woman to whom I have shown it (admittedly a small and probably unrepresentative sample) agrees is patronising, sexist cr*p, have been published in the days of the GLC Women's Committee?

The Leaflet itself can be seen at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/pdf/press-releases/tube-tips-for-women.pdf

UPDATE - The leaflet is no longer on TfL's site.