Whitechapel’s Bengali signage faces backlash as MP Rupert Lowe and Elon Musk call for English-only signs in London stations.
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| London’s Bengali-language station sign sparks division, as MP Rupert Lowe and Elon Musk weigh in on the debate. Image: X |
London, UK — February 11, 2025:
Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, has sparked debate after posting an image of a bilingual sign at Whitechapel Station on his official X account. The sign, written in English and Bengali, has drawn criticism from some, including Lowe, who argues that station signage in London should be in English only, according to different media including UNB online.
Lowe, a Reform UK MP, wrote, "This is London – the station name should be in English, and English only," a statement that quickly went viral. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, responded with a simple "Yes."
Lowe, a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has recently called for Nigel Farage’s removal as leader of Reform UK. His stance on the sign has divided opinion, with some backing his view and others arguing that multilingual signage poses no issue.
The Bengali signs were introduced at Whitechapel Tube station in 2022 to honor the contributions of East London’s Bangladeshi community. Tower Hamlets Council funded the initiative as part of wider station upgrades. Whitechapel is home to the UK’s largest Bangladeshi community.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the signage, calling it a "victory for our culture and heritage." She highlighted Bengali’s global significance and praised the move as a unifying step for the diaspora.