Transport for London (TfL) has apologised following a complaint raised by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) concerning a staff member who wore a “Free Palestine” badge while on duty at Liverpool Street Station.

The incident took place on 23 February 2026, when a Jewish passenger approached a TfL employee on the eastbound Circle line platform to ask about a train. After the interaction, she noticed that the staff member was wearing a “Free Palestine” badge. The passenger later reported that the display made her feel unsafe and intimidated.

UKLFI wrote to TfL raising concerns that the wearing of such a badge by a public-facing employee constituted a political statement and risked creating a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli passengers. UKLFI pointed out that this conduct breached TfL’s uniform policy and its obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

In its response, TfL confirmed that its uniform policy allows only a single trade union affiliation badge and prohibits other badges, including political ones. TfL stated that it had identified the staff member involved, investigated the matter, and taken “appropriate action” in line with its policies.

TfL also issued an apology for the incident, stating that the organisation wants all passengers to feel safe and that staff are expected to behave in a respectful and supportive manner at all times.

A UKLFI spokesperson commented:  “UKLFI welcomes TfL’s acknowledgement that political badges are not permitted under its uniform policy and its apology for this incident. However, this case highlights the importance of clear enforcement of those rules. Public transport should be  a neutral environment in which all passengers feel safe. TfL must ensure that its policies are consistently applied and that incidents of this nature do not recur.”