Transport bosses say they were unaware that one of their flagship New Routemaster buses would be used for a general election campaign event.
The vehicle featured prominently in media coverage of the Democratic Unionist Party’s manifesto launch which took place on Tuesday at the the Wrightbus factory in Antrim where the buses are assembled.
Media coverage of the event included footage and images of the bus which is made for Transport for London who own the copyright in its design.
DUP launch their manifesto in front of a London bus. "It's on its way to Westminster" says @DUPleader pic.twitter.com/VTb67ly2qz
— Chris Buckler (@csbuckler) April 21, 2015
As a TfL asset the inclusion of the bus in the DUP’s campaign event could be in breach of rules banning taxpayer-funded resources from being used for political or campaigning purposes in the build up to an election.
The capital’s transport agency says neither the DUP or Wrightbus asked for permission to use the bus at the event.
A spokesperson told MayorWatch: “Had we been asked, we would not have given permission for the bus to be used given pre-election rules for public bodies.”
