Boris Johnson outlines plans for no bagpipe buskers near shops, offices or flats in London under new busking rules

 
Ban: a bagpipe player in London (Picture: Rex Features)
David Hartley/Rex
Rachel Blundy28 April 2015

Boris Johnson has effectively banned buskers from playing bagpipes on the streets of London, warning performers not to play them in public because they are "annoying".

The Mayor of London has unveiled new rules for busking in the capital, in which he suggests that "piercing sounds like bagpipes" are not his preferred style of music.

The regulations for performers are outlined in the The Greater London Authority's new Busk in London website.

Under its performance section, the website states: "Some sounds carry over long distances and all sounds can be annoying after a while.

"Some sounds can become annoying more quickly. For example: repetitive sounds like some types of percussion or beatboxing; loud sounds like highly amplified guitars; hard ‘attack’ sounds like drums; piercing sounds like bagpipes.

"If your act has these, move regularly or find locations with no flats, offices, shops or hotels."

Former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell suggested the advice was indicative of Mr Johnson's anti-Scotland stance.

He told the Metro: "The dismissive attitudes expressed in this advice reveal an unjustified bias against the pipes."

But a spokesman for the Mayor's office insisted the rules did not signify an outright ban for bagpipe players.

He added that officials would "welcome feedback" on the new busking rules.

He said: "We’re enthusiastic about all musical instruments played by buskers but we point out that some like electric guitars and bagpipes can have more of a noise impact and that musicians should consider this when deciding where exactly to play.

"It is clearly not a prescription against playing these instruments and all the stakeholders who were involved in designing the code of conduct, buskers, the musicians union, local authorities, and the Met police would confirm this.

"Bagpipers are very welcome in London and we have many fantastic players. We also welcome feedback on the code of conduct."

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