Commuters on the London Underground will all know too well about the issue (Image: Getty)
Every commuter on the London Underground – as well as towns and cities across the UK – can probably recall a stressful journey worsened by loud noises coming from another person’s phone. The issue has become so prevalent that the Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to outlaw playing music and videos out loud from a phone on public transport.
The party says “headphone dodgers” should face penalties of up to £1,000. A poll commissioned by the Lib Dems found 54% of Britons would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down their music on public transport. It also found 38% of Brits have experienced people playing music out loud often or sometimes.
The move could be welcome news for frustrated commuters (Image: Getty)
The trend has now been dubbed as ‘bare beating’ by Metro.
People have taken to social media to share their frustrations over the issue.
One Reddit user said: “Talking is okay, but blaring music is needlessly disruptive and rude. Far too many of my commutes are disturbed by these rabble. It’s always TERRIBLE music too.”
According to The Independent, a TikTok user also vented their frustration, saying: “Why do people listen to music on speakers in public, like what is wrong with you, we do not all want to hear your music.”
One person on X even recalled people blasting music out on trains using speakers.
“It’ll never cease to amaze me that people this it’s acceptable to get on a public train, pull out a literal speaker, and start blasting music,” the user said.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, is looking to amend the Bus Services Bill currently making its way through the House of Lords to outlaw playing music and videos out loud from a phone on public transport in England.
The party says the local authorities could impose the same rules banning music on buses by strengthening existing antisocial behaviour laws.
Lisa Smart, the Lib Dems’ home affairs spokesperson, said antisocial behaviour means people “dread their daily commute” and that “headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders”.
She added: “It’s time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace.”
A YouGov poll published last month suggested 62% of people would back the move, while 28% said they would oppose the proposed fines.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told The Independent: “There are already strict rules in place to prevent anti-social behaviour on public transport, including possible fines of up to £1,000.”
Gary Lineker could have been famous for all the right reasons – he’s ruined it all
Gary Lineker (Image: Getty)
Oh, Gary, why did you ruin it all? You could have gone down in footballing history not just as one of England’s greatest ever strikers, winner of the Golden Boot in the 1986 World Cup, scorer of famous goals against the Argentinians and Germans, but also as an excellent presenter of Match of the Day and other big footballing occasions, and every bit as good as Des Lynam before you.
But that clearly wasn’t enough for Gary. Earning millions doing a job he obviously loves and is really good at didn’t provide him with that extra bit of relevance and spice he craved. So, he started dabbling in political debate, going against all BBC protocols of impartiality, always from leftist, progressive, woke and anti-Brexit, virtue-signalling points of view.
He got away with it for a few years because he appeared too big and famous to sack. In fact, when the Beeb suspended him after one outrageous abuse, his fellow pundits and commentators came out on strike, forcing the corporation to cravenly fold. Perhaps that just emboldened Lineker. Perhaps he thought he really was too important to follow the rules that all other BBC staff dutifully obey.
So, he continued to make absurd statements, accusing the last government of acting like 1930s Nazis, taking a horribly one-sided view of the Gaza conflict and, most stupidly, declaring the Trans community to be one of the most persecuted on earth. Ask the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, who had to flee their country because of the violence perpetrated against them, just what they think about that. Or ask the families of the 4,500 Christians murdered, purely because of their faith, in Nigeria.
The final straw of course, revealing just how little he knew about the subjects on which he pontificated, was reposting a disgusting ant-semitic image on Instagram so powerfully offensive to Jews that those working for the BBC demanded his instant dismissal. Even Gary knew he’d gone too far. But pleading ignorance, while the truth, was never going to wash, given how many warnings he’d had and lives he’d used up.
So, this weekend’s Match of the Day will be his last appearance as a BBC presenter. What a waste. What a shame for a guy who was all set to carry on till the 2026 World Cup and must have dreamed, as I did, of his signing off with an unlikely England triumph. We can’t feel too sorry for him, though. The guy is fabulously wealthy, will still I’m sure present on other channels and has his irreverent footie podcast, with mates Shearer and Richards, to keep him amused. Frankly, that’s more his style anyway, allowing him to be as opinionated as he likes.
But never again will Lineker lead us through those moments when the nation comes together for the triumph and more often despair of a big World Cup match.
Never again will he present the FA Cup final, which is still regarded around the world as a great annual sporting fixture of international significance. Never again will he front the Beeb’ Olympic coverage, a role he performed so admirably.
And the tragedy is that it’s all his own fault. He can’t say he wasn’t warned. Repeatedly. He now leaves under a cloud. He is disgraced. How very sad.
