Private hire union says it expects full involvement in the Mayor of London’s new compensation process amid continuing delays
- Perry Richardson
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain has warned Transport for London (TfL) that it is prepared to escalate its campaign over licence-renewal delays, telling officials that drivers cannot wait any longer for meaningful improvements.
The union’s intervention follows the Mayor of London’s recent decision to introduce a compensation scheme for private hire drivers unable to work because their licences expired while waiting for TfL to process renewals.
In a letter seen by TaxiPoint and sent to TfL chief operating officer Claire Mann, the union said ongoing delays remain severe enough to force drivers off the road for extended periods, cutting off income and creating what it describes as “significant personal hardship”. The letter states that without visible progress, the organisation will be “left with no choice” but to escalate the dispute.
The union argues the Mayor’s compensation announcement has raised expectations among workers who have already faced debt, repossession and eviction as a result of the disruptions. It is now pushing TfL to open detailed discussions on the design and delivery of the scheme. According to the letter, the union wants clarity on eligibility rules, assessment criteria, the application process and when payments will begin.
Mayor faces pressure as union warns of escalation over licence-renewal delays
TfL has previously cited the 2024 cyber attack and a system transition in early 2025 as the source of the backlog. The union rejects this as an adequate explanation for the scale and duration of the failures, noting that more than a year on, drivers continue to face renewals running beyond expiry. The letter adds that temporary licensing has not been used effectively to mitigate the harm.
The union also warns that the number of new applicants left waiting for a response has grown. It says 78 cases submitted to TfL remain unresolved despite repeated follow-ups, with no timetable provided for action. September 2025 had previously been set as the point at which the new-applicant backlog would be brought under control.
Senior leadership changes within TfL’s licensing division have added further pressure. The letter notes the departure of former licensing director Helen Chapman and makes clear that responsibility now rests with Mann to demonstrate rapid progress. It calls for an urgent meeting to prevent long-term damage to the licensing system and to ensure the new compensation scheme is delivered with full worker representation.
