Queen death: Musicians’ disbelief over TfL busking suspension

Buskers have reacted with disbelief over TfL’s sudden decision to suspend busking on the London Underground during the period of mourning for the Queen.

Some took to social media to vent their frustration, saying they will lose a week’s income because of the decision.

Author Philip Pullman also weighed on the decision, saying: “Apparently TfL has declared that no busking will be allowed on the Underground until after the Queen’s funeral.

“What a miserable, mean cast of mind this reveals.”

One musician known as Benjamin Teacher, who is blind and plays guitar on the Underground with one arm, responded: “Thanks for the support, Philip.

“As a LU busker who is physically disabled and legally blind, busking is my only source of income to provide and survive.

“This brief ban only effects/hurts us buskers. Especially disabled ones. Please reconsider.”

Chris Morris, 41, said he has been busking for years and plays in the Underground most days, either solo or with his band Berlin Blonde.

He said: “I didn’t realise they had sent an email saying not to busk.

“I thought, fair enough, it’s a bit crap with no notice but if it’s only going to be this weekend, I can deal with that. But later that day it said sorry, it’s going to have to be until after the funeral.

“We book our pitches two weeks in advance so we didn’t know someone was going to die.”

He said he would typically make between £300-£400 a week depending on how many days he plays and that effectively the TfL decision will cost him nearly two weeks of work as he will miss two weekends, which are more profitable than the weekdays.

The guitarist and drummer also said he now plans to busk on the street in east London, despite it being less safe.

He added: “I went busking on Friday and had a really good day in South Kensington, I made over £100 in four hours.

“I think people appreciated the fact that someone was lightening the mood.

“It is so much better on the Tube, you have security, you have internet so you can use the contactless payments, and it’s much safer. I have been robbed before on the streets.

“I appreciate TfL for letting us do it, but it’s just I wish they had given us a heads up.”

TfL’s busking scheme includes 39 pitches across 25 London Underground stations.

On its website, TfL says buskers play to a unique audience of 3.5 million people.

Busking on the Tube has attracted big name stars such as Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Bob Geldof and Katherine Jenkins.

Jamie Pullman, London regional organiser for the Musicians’ Union (MU) 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.”

David Fisher, co-director of the campaign group Keep Streets Live, added: “We are hugely disappointed with the decision to prevent street performers from making their living on the London Underground during the mourning period for the Queen.

“While we understand that many people will want to grieve and pay their respects, this should not prevent buskers from going about their work.

“It is hard to believe that the Royal Family, who have supported a wide variety of arts-focused charities over the years, would approve of such a ban and we call on TfL to change this policy with a matter of urgency, and we hope that this will not set a precedent for other areas in London.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “During the period of national mourning, we have taken the decision to pause the busking scheme across our network, and we will reopen the scheme following this.”