Lib Dems making all the right noises on nuisance phone use

HOW many times have you endured a journey on public transport that was ruined by inconsiderate passengers playing music loudly, or watching videos on their smartphone? Or even worse, holding a video call with their mate or relative thus forcing you to hear both sides of the conversation about their weekend plans, what they might be having for their tea or their latest relationship crisis?

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It is an increasing menace on buses and trains which is why the latest rare policy offering from the Liberal Democrats is worthy of noting and even endorsing.

Writing those words was not easy. I have a complicated relationship with the Liberal Democrats. I find leader Sir Ed Davey's stunts and antics often wince-inducing. Watching a grown man riding a hobby horse over a series of jumps as part of a campaign launch was both bizarre and embarrassing.

Let's be honest, the Lib Dems are not really known as an industrious policy-making machine. However, their recent announcement has picked up on something millions of commuters find tedious, distressing and even threatening.

They have tabled an amendment to a piece of legislation going through Parliament which would increase the list of anti-social behaviours on public transport subject to financial penalties. The legislation itself is the Bus Services Bill.

EXISTING bylaws allow for financial penalties for forms of anti-social behaviour, such as dropping litter or using threatening language. The Lib Dems are proposing to change this so that blaring music or videos from a phone also counts as a form of anti-social behaviour.