Lord Blunkett Calls for Tube Safety Reforms

Lord Blunkett, the blind former home secretary, is advocating for urgent safety improvements on London Underground platforms after he fell into the gap between a train and the platform at Westminster station. The incident occurred while he was boarding a District Line train with his guide dog, causing severe bruising to his legs; he expressed anger and fear over the potential dangers for visually impaired individuals. Blunkett criticized the lack of staff presence during rush hour, noting that announcements to 'mind the gap' are insufficient without personnel available to assist those in need. He is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to fill in the widest platform gaps and ensure staff are stationed at busy times. Nick Dent, director of customer operations at London Underground, acknowledged the incident and stated they are committed to discussing improvements with Blunkett. The former minister plans to meet with TfL for a thorough review of the safety measures at busy tube stations.