‘TRIUMPH FOR THE UK PRIVATE HIRE SECTOR’: Veezu welcomes Supreme Court decision as protection for local PHV trade
- Perry Richardson
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Veezu, one of the UK’s largest private hire networks, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on operator contract requirements as a clear win for the domestic PHV sector.
Nia Cooper, Chief Legal Officer at Veezu, described the judgment as “a triumph for the UK Private Hire sector” and a confirmation that operators outside London can continue choosing their business model. The verdict concludes a three-year legal dispute between Uber Britannia Limited and two regional PHV firms, including D.E.L.T.A. Merseyside.
Cooper said Uber’s attempt to push for a uniform principal-based contracting model would have forced operators to apply 20% VAT across all fares. That outcome, she argued, would have triggered sharp fare rises for passengers, including those who rely on PHVs due to limited transport options.
She added that the decision preserves operational flexibility, protects licensing authorities from additional burdens, and helps maintain consistency for drivers. The current model, she said, enables operators to serve communities around the clock without being restricted by frameworks designed to fit the business models of global platforms.
Veezu also framed the outcome as a sign that UK-based firms can hold their ground in the face of legal challenges brought by international players. Cooper said the judgment shows litigation cannot be used to force changes that may disadvantage local operators and the passengers they serve.
With the court making no change to the current legal structure under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, PHV operators outside London remain free to operate as agents, principals or intermediaries, depending on their business setup.
Nia Cooper, Chief Legal Officer at Veezu, said: “This decision is a triumph for the UK Private Hire sector. The unanimous verdict ends a three-year legal battle and confirms that operators can continue to choose which business model they adopt to run their business. Uber was seeking a declaration that would have resulted in 20% VAT being charged on all PHV fares.
“Today’s outcome protects these often vulnerable passengers from crippling fare increases, avoids undue burdens on licensing authorities, maintains the status quo for licensed PHV drivers and allows the private hire sector to keep serving the people and places that rely on it 24/7. This ruling also shows that British-owned businesses can stand up against global giants that attempt to use litigation as a tactic to shape the sector to suit their business model.”
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