Dan Wootton: Sadiq Khan's mask mandate for London is damning this country to years of staying muzzled

Sadiq Khan's mask mandate for London is damning this country to years of staying muzzled.

Let me explain.

The virtue signalling London mayor today overruled a government decision to allow the public to make our own sensible decisions when it comes to masks. Khan will instead enforce masks on the biggest transport network in the country, including tubes, trains, buses and taxis.

A truckload of money and resource will now be spent on patrolling folk who decide it’s safe for them not to wear a mask, even though legally that’s what they’re allowed to do.

But what's most scary about Khan's messaging is that he says masks will stay mandatory “as long as the virus is still with us”.

Well the cold reality, Mr Khan, is that means forever. Because the virus will likely be with us for our lifetime. The addiction some of our leaders have to control and restrictions is deeply disturbing and could change the face of this country, quite literally.

Khan’s highly political decision – designed to make the Prime Minister look weak on Covid – will likely kick off a domino effect for other transport operators, shops and private businesses throughout the land.

It makes a mockery of the government's own desire to allow citizens to take back control of how they live their lives, rather than becoming a nanny state like we've never seen before.