Loud phone calls and music to be banned on Tube under Tory mayoral hopeful's plans

Loudspeaker phone calls and playing music on London’s transport network would be banned under proposals unveiled by a Tory mayoral hopeful.

Festus Akinbusoye, who is one of four men vying to become the Conservative Mayor of London candidate, said he would employ hundreds of new TfL guards to patrol the Underground to enforce the ban.

He said he would also set up automated announcements on trains to remind the public not to disturb other passengers with phone calls, music or videos.

“On public transport, I don't want to hear your Stormzy,” he told the Standard.

“I love Stormzy. I love music. But for my own personal use, not for the public to share with me on the Tube or me to hear about your next holiday to Ibiza being planned on speakerphone.

“I just don't want that.”

Festus Akinbusoye

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Under current railway bylaws many forms of anti-social behaviour are already banned, with offenders facing fines of up to £1,000.

However, there are growing calls for stronger action to tackle the problem across TfL’s network.

Mr Akinbusoye added: “We can have an automated system that goes over at intermittent times, just reminding people about the rules of engagement on the public transport, just reminding people: look, this is a public space.

“You know, remember, turn your phones [down], whatever it is, so people know that others know what the expectations are.”

As part of his campaign to be selected a the Tory mayoral candidate, he has also pledged to build subsidised housing in inner London for Metropolitan Police officers and other key workers.

He argued that London “absolutely has to have” cheaper homes for Met officers, nurses and teachers to “benefit everyone in the capital”.

He argued that high rental costs are pushing key workers out to the home counties or mean they are unable to start families in the city.

Under the policy, key workers could be provided a subsidised home for the first three years of their career.

But he faces competition from Mr Akinbusoye, chair of the London Assembly Andrew Boff and businessman Alex Challoner.