Mayor backs junk food ad ban on public transport

Junk food adverts will not be allowed on some transport services in several regions

East Midlands mayor Claire Ward is expected to follow other regions in banning junk food adverts on public transport.

It comes after mayors in South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the West Midlands all backed a campaign started by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

But any such ban cannot come into force across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire until the mayoral region receives devolved powers with greater control over public transport in 2026.

A spokesman for the mayor says Ward "supports" the measures.

TV chef Jamie Oliver said banning junk food adverts was vital to protect child health

Mr Oliver, who started the AdEnough campaign in 2018, said young people were being "constantly bombarded" with junk food marketing.

The BBC understands Ward was asked to join the initiative but declined as she does not yet have the range of powers which other mayors do.

Apart from Nottingham, huge swathes of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are served by private operators which enables them to run any adverts they choose to.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority is set to launch a consultation on a new governance model which could include implementing a franchise system next year - with devolved powers to enact it expected in 2026.

Ward has backed the ban but cannot enforce it yet