‘KEEP THE CAP’: Glasgow taxi and private hire drivers rally against proposal to lift private hire cap
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers in Glasgow are staging a protest today as they oppose plans to lift the cap on private hire vehicles operating in the city.
The rally, organised by Unite’s Glasgow Cab Section and the Scottish Private Hire Association (SPHA), is taking place between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Cochrane Street near John Street. A petition with 545 signatures will be handed to Glasgow City Council officials during the demonstration.
Glasgow currently enforces a limit of 3,450 private hire vehicles. The proposal to remove this cap has faced opposition from local drivers and the union representing them. Companies such as Uber have backed the removal of the cap, citing increased demand.
Unite argues that lifting the cap would negatively impact accessibility for passengers with mobility needs, lower vehicle standards and increase pollution levels. The union also raised concerns about public safety and claims the move could lead to an influx of unregulated operators.
A public consultation on the issue closed on 28 May. Glasgow City Council has yet to announce any final decision.
The coordinated action highlights rare unity between taxi and private hire representatives, with both groups calling for limits on vehicle numbers to remain in place. As part of the rally, Unite will hand in its petition signed by members of the taxi trade, while the SPHA will present a membership ballot report showing strong support within the private hire sector for maintaining the cap.
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary, said: “The cap in place for private hire vehicles is about protecting a fair, safe, and accessible transport system. The demonstration and petition being handed in by Unite’s taxi membership raises really important issues not just for the drivers but for everyone in Glasgow. The drivers will have their union’s full support in the fight to Keep the Cap.”
Andy Brown, Unite Industrial Officer, said: “The fact is that there is no shred of evidence to support Glasgow City Council lifting the current cap on private hire vehicles. The opposite is true because the cap in place helps to protect vehicle standards, the environment, and, critically for our members, it guards against a race to the bottom. The only people to benefit from any cap being lifted is multi-national firms such as Uber whose exclusive motive is profit.”
Eddie Grice, the General Secretary of the SPHA, said: "This is a critical moment for passenger safety and the long-term viability of our trade in Glasgow. Maintaining the plate caps isn't just about protecting driver incomes; it’s fundamentally about public safety. The trade faces many challenges and drivers are feeling a financial strain. If that worsens then drivers will inevitably be forced to work longer hours and more shifts leading to fatigue. This puts everybody at risk. Scrapping the cap would lead to an oversupply of vehicles and would fire the starting pistol on a race to the bottom, where corners are cut on vehicle standards, driver welfare, and ultimately, public safety. These policies ensure that Glasgow’s public can continue to rely on a professional and safe taxi and private hire service.
"These overprovision policies are essential for so many reasons, but the most important one is they stop an excessive number of vehicles from flooding the market, which would drive down driver earnings to unsustainable levels. The only voice seriously pushing for the cap to be scrapped is that of massive companies like Uber, who have vowed to flood the city with hundreds more cars. It's not sustainable and it's not safe and it must not be allowed to happen.
"I’m also incredibly encouraged to see the taxi and private hire trades standing shoulder-to-shoulder on this vital issue. It’s heartening to find common ground and work cordially together to defend policies that benefit us all, especially the safety of our passengers and all drivers in the fleets."
