Humbling of Uber
Taxi app stripped of London licence after being accused of putting passengers at risk
CONTROVERSIAL taxi app Uber was dramatically stripped of its licence to operate in London yesterday after being accused of putting passengers at risk.
Transport for London (TfL) concluded the US tech firm is not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a private hire operator licence.
It said Uber’s conduct demonstrated a ‘lack of corporate responsibility’ in areas that could have ‘safety and security implications’.
Uber is hugely popular, with 3.5 million users in London and 65 million worldwide who choose it because it offers cheap cab rides.
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan said companies needed to ‘play by the rules’, and it would be wrong to continue to license Uber if it could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety.
In a damning indictment of the Californian tech giant, TfL accused it of a string of extraordinary failings.
It raised concerns about the reporting of serious criminal offences by drivers, and the vetting process used to check drivers’ backgrounds, including for criminal records.
TfL also highlighted questions about the way ‘fit to drive’ medical certificates are obtained by Uber drivers. This follows cases of drivers securing bogus certificates for cash.
Uber’s failure to report sexual attacks by its drivers prompted a blistering attack by a senior Scotland Yard inspector last month, who accused the firm of putting its reputation above passengers’ safety.
Last month it also emerged that the man charged with the Buckingham Palace terror attack, Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, was an Uber driver. And in 2015 a former Uber driver, Muhiddin Mire, tried to behead a stranger in a London Tube station, yelling: ‘This is for my Syrian brothers.’
The licence refusal will be hugely embarrassing for former prime minister David Cameron and exchancellor George Osborne. Earlier this year a Daily Mail investigation revealed how in 2015 they secretly lobbied against proposals by former London mayor Boris Johnson to crack down on Uber.
However the crackdown was welcomed by unions and Labour MPs, who predicted it would prompt other cities to follow suit.
Uber has been heavily criticised for classing its drivers as ‘customers’ rather than employees in order to avoid giving them basic rights such as sick pay. Unite general secretary Frances O’Grady described it as a ‘cautionary tale’ for firms that exploit workers.
Tensions flared on the streets of London yesterday as the decision prompted jeering black cab drivers to wave ‘goodbye’ to Uber.
But TfL’s decision led to a fierce backlash from commuters and business groups, who warned it would force the public to pay higher cab fares while stifling the economy and deterring foreign investment. Yesterday more than 300,000 people had signed a petition – set up by Uber – urging Mr Khan to reverse his decision.
In an email to customers, Uber said: ‘We are sure Londoners will be as astounded as we are ... The Mayor and TfL have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice.’
TfL’s decision does not necessarily spell the end for Uber in London. Its five-year licence expires on September 30 but the firm has said it will appeal to Westminster Magistrates’ Court. London’s 40,000 Uber drivers can continue to operate until the court makes a ruling, which could take months.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: ‘Drivers who use Uber are licensed by TfL and have been through the same enhanced DBS background checks as black cab drivers. Our pioneering technology has gone further to enhance safety with every trip tracked and recorded by GPS. We have always followed TfL rules on reporting serious incidents and have a dedicated team who work closely with the Metropolitan Police.’
‘Safety and security fears’