Gatwick Airport taxi drivers’ protest highlights the divide in cross-border licensing opinion between unions and Uber
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
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The protest by Gatwick taxi drivers against Uber’s growing presence at the airport has brought attention to one of the most divisive issues in the taxi and private hire sector – cross-border working.
Today, Unite the Union led a demonstration at Gatwick’s South Terminal, accusing Uber of “sidestepping local licensing laws” and damaging Crawley’s taxi trade - something Uber strongly denies.
This dispute goes to the heart of evidence recently presented to Parliament’s Transport Select Committee, where both Unite and Uber outlined sharply different views on cross-border operations. The committee is examining whether current laws allow councils to regulate effectively and whether reforms are needed to ensure consistent safety and licensing standards across England.
Unite’s written submission called for an outright end to cross-border hiring. The union argued that the Deregulation Act 2015, which allows drivers to work outside the area where they are licensed, has led to widespread “licence shopping” and weakened local oversight. It said this loophole had turned areas such as Wolverhampton into licensing hubs for drivers operating hundreds of miles away, undermining safety and enforcement.
Unite cited the 2025 Casey Report on child sexual exploitation, which highlighted weaknesses in local taxi licensing as a factor in several abuse cases. The union said the report demonstrated the urgent need for tighter controls and supported the 2018 Task and Finish Group’s recommendation that all taxi and private hire journeys should start or end in the area where the vehicle, driver, and operator are licensed. Unite argues that this “start or finish” rule would restore accountability, ensure consistent vetting, and protect passengers.
In contrast, Uber told the committee that cross-border operation is an essential feature of the private hire system. The company said restricting drivers to their licensing area would harm passengers, reduce availability, and cut off millions of journeys. Uber estimated that banning cross-border work could prevent more than 28 million trips and cost drivers £250 million in lost earnings.
Uber instead advocates for legally binding national licensing standards, a nationwide driver and vehicle database, and the right for all local enforcement officers to act against any licensed vehicle, regardless of where it is registered. The company maintains that national consistency and technology-based enforcement would address concerns without limiting passenger choice or economic flexibility.
The Gatwick protest shows how these competing visions play out on the ground. Local drivers, represented by Unite, say Uber’s ability to bring in out-of-area cars amounts to unfair competition and has left many struggling to earn a living. Uber, meanwhile, insists its system provides passengers with safe, reliable transport and supports economic activity around major hubs like Gatwick.
As the Government reviews licensing law, the outcome of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry could determine whether cross-border operations remain a cornerstone of the ride-hailing model or face new legislative limits.
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