Emma Best: Night Tube expansion will save our nightlife – particularly for women

London must expand Night Tube to Thursday to save our nighttime economy, says Assembly member Emma Best.

Speaking after Mayor’s Question Time today at City Hall, Best said the Night Tube has an important role to play in improving nights out for women.

Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged to the Assembly to advocate for the network’s expansion “when circumstances allow”.

 

Best said following the meeting: “It’s consistently found that women prefer to use the tube than any other mode of transport.

“It makes them feel safer, and that is what’s going to get them to stay out those extra few hours spending more money in a nighttime economy.”

At Mayor’s Question Time, Khan promised to work together with Best and her collaborators “to reinvigorate the nighttime economy”.

But Best believes Khan has not put enough time into fixing London’s nightlife throughout his tenure.

She said: “There was an article out recently showing the number of late-night licenses, and London was at the bottom of the league in terms of UK cities.

“Manchester really have committed to the late-night economy, and they see how valuable it is.

“If people don’t even have a nightlife to enjoy, they are going to go to Manchester, to Liverpool – and we’re going to have a brain drain in London.”

Khan said to the Assembly: “I have made it clear I would like to see the Night Tube service expanded to support the running of our city’s late-night economy, when circumstances allow.

“Changes like this require complex planning, and as well as funding there are a range of other considerations that have to be made before expanding services further.”

This comes a week after London’s Night Czar Amy Lamé announced her resignation after eight years in the role.

Lamé received criticism during her period as Night Czar from the likes of Best, who recently published a report entitled Fixing London’s Nightlife: Industry-Led Solutions.

Best said: “I don’t think (Amy Lamé) did a job, to be honest – as I’ve said previously, much like a good night out, people have little recollection of Amy Lamé’s record.

“A lot of people will be wanting to raise a glass to celebrate her departure, but they will have to find somewhere that’s open first.”