ACTION PLAN: Without support from Mayor of London the taxi industry's future could look ‘uncertain’ says taxi rep

The Mayor of London’s forthcoming Taxi Action Plan must create a ‘positive vision for the future of our trade’, said a prominent black cab representative.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), highlighted the growing challenges facing London’s licensed taxi trade in a recent editorial in TAXI newspaper.

McNamara outlined his meetings with representatives from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Conservative groups on the Greater London Assembly (GLA), stressing the urgent need for more financial support for taxi drivers. A key topic of discussion was the Mayor’s vital forthcoming Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Action Plan. McNamara emphasised that this plan must deliver a clear vision for the future of the trade and include tangible measures from both the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) to assist drivers in adapting to today’s financial realities.

Drawing attention to the stark difference in circumstances since the launch of the electric taxi, McNamara noted that the vehicle’s price has risen from £63,000 to £75,000, while financial incentives, such as scrappage schemes and grants for charging infrastructure, have either been reduced or withdrawn entirely.

While acknowledging the keen interest of political groups to offer support, McNamara stressed the need for concerted action to ease these pressures. Over the coming months, the LTDA will continue to push the Mayor and TfL to do more in safeguarding the future of London’s iconic black cab trade.

McNamara said: “I’ve recently met with representatives from the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups on the GLA. I have been talking to them all about the need for more financial support for taxi drivers. I also raised the importance of the Mayor’s new Taxi and PHV Action Plan (currently being developed) and how it must create a positive vision for the future of our trade and how the Mayor and TfL can help us achieve it. We need them to step up and take some responsibility for the things that they can do to help, as drivers can’t be expected to do it all alone.

“I pointed out that when the electric taxi first launched it was £63k, there were various grants available including a scrappage scheme worth up to £10,000, a £7,500 plug-in taxi grant, interest rates were far lower, there were grants to help people install EV home charging points, and charging the cab at a public charging point was a third of the price. Now, the vehicle is £75k, there’s no scrappage scheme and many of the other financial incentives are gone, the plug-in grant has been reduced and interest rates have soared.

“My point is that it’s a very different, more challenging world that drivers are trying to make a living in now. Despite strong demand and decent earning, without the right support from our Mayor and regulator, the future of the trade could begin to look uncertain.

“They all recognised the challenges we are facing and are keen to try to help us, so we will be working with them over the next few months to try to put pressure on the Mayor and TfL to do more to support and promote London’s licensed taxi trade.”