The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has weighed in on Scientology’s recent controversial advertising campaign on the city’s Underground network after being questioned at a recent meeting of the London Assembly.
During the latest Mayor’s Question Time held on 22nd May, Liberal Democrat Councillor Gareth Roberts asked Mr. Khan “Residents have contacted me about adverts on the Tube network from Scientology. Are the adverts in line with your advertising guidelines, and if so, how?”
The question aligns with recent controversy surrounding Scientology’s campaign, which sparked fierce backlash among Londoners who expressed shock at the fact junk food ads are banned on the Underground, but not organisations like Scientology, which a High Court judge ruled in 1984 was “dangerous and harmful, especially to children and impressionable young people.”
In response The Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation fought back with ads of their own promoting the services they provide to those wishing to leave Scientology, sparking an international billboard battle which has received press attention from The Times and other reputable news organisations.
Here’s the Mayor’s response in full:
“In this city I’m proud that we celebrate and embrace people of all backgrounds and ensuring inclusivity for all is one of my core values as Mayor of London. TFL conducts all its business and revenue generating activities as efficiently as possible and to the highest ethical standards while ensuring compliance with its legal obligations.
Advertising space across TFL is managed by its media partners who hold the rights to carry out advertising on the estate under commercial agreements. As the members aware, income generated from commercial advertising is vital to fund TFL’s operations and enable TFL to continue trying to save inclusive and reliable transport network for London. And there are comprehensive rules around what can and cannot run across the network. Adverts are required to adhere to the advertising standards authorities advertising codes which cover all advertising in the UK.
The TFL advertising policy broadly follows the advertising standards authorities advertising codes. TFL works closely with the ASA and its sister organisation the Committee for Advertising Practice which writes the national advertising codes. The advertising codes are the most consistent way to improve advertising standards ensuring they apply to all advertising. It’s worth saying that advertising codes apply in London on all advertising estates including TFLs and that owned by Network Rail, London Boroughs and private landlords.
However, TFL has long been leading the way on advertising policy and as advertising policy goes further than the ASA codes in some areas for example around body image and the food and non-alcoholic drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar. All advertisements on the TFL network are reviewed on a case by case basis against the TFL advertising policy so it can deliver a consistent approach and ensure advertising displayed as inclusive and suitable for TFL’s diverse customers. TFL’s advertising policy also reflects its obligations under the public sector equality duty and the Equality Act 2010 and TFL has regard to those obligations in its application of the policy.
TFL and its media partners take their responsibilities very seriously. The work is also monitored by the advertising steering group which provides strategic advice and guidance to TFL on the application of its advertising policy and the group’s chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance and is composed of a range of stakeholder and industry representatives.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, 22nd May 2025
You can watch the Mayor’s response below:
