It’s time to admit defeat. Giving people a personal choice hasn’t worked.

The wearing of face masks on public transport must be made mandatory again.

I have several reasons for saying this:

• The rising levels of positive Covid tests and deaths is worrying
• Seeing politicians not wearing a face covering – especially in the packed Commons chamber – sets a bad example to the public
• People are confused as to whether they should be wearing face masks on station platforms or on trains
• There is no definition of what constitutes a crowded space

It was all so much clearer before. We were told to wear face coverings on public transport unless exempt – and most people complied.

That sent out a unified message. Everyone understood the wearing of a face covering helped to prevent the spread of coronavirus alongside other measures. There were still problems with enforcement as I have highlighted in previous posts but the point remains the rules were there.

Now the rules seem to be:

• it’s compulsory to wear one in some places
• recommended or advised in certain circumstances
• optional in other situations
• a matter for personal choice in many cases or
• ‘your guess is as good as mine’ on alternate Tuesdays!

When the restrictions were eased in England in July, nearly two-thirds of people said they still planned to wear a mask on public transport.

I must be unlucky because I seem to be on the same trains and in the same carriages as the other one third!

I am increasingly uncomfortable sitting next to or near people not wearing face coverings on trains. It is the one aspect which puts me off train travel at the moment.

I continue to wear a mask on journeys no matter how crowded or empty the trains.

The Government is still holding on to Plan A and not yet willing to reintroduce mandatory mask wearing.

But I fear it is only a matter of time before ministers have to accept that making masks mandatory will help to tackle the current increase in cases. It’s not so much about the need to “save Christmas” as the public health need to save lives.

It may also go some way to prevent a fourth lockdown. It will certainly go a long way to prevent mask-wearers like me having a meltdown!

Go ahead, make my day. Make masks mandatory.