The leader of a group representing the capital’s black cab drivers today said the Uber licensing decision was "a good thing for us, a good thing for London and a good thing for Londoners”.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, welcomed the move to strip its competitor of their licence in an interview on BBC 5 Live following the dramatic ruling this morning.
Transport for London said it would not be renewing Uber’s licence to operate on London’s roads when it expires next Saturday, citing security and safety concerns.
It comes after months of lobbying from black cab drivers who say Uber drivers offer an inferior service and do not have to meet the same standards to operate.
In a statement, Mr McNamara added: "The Mayor has made the right call not to relicense Uber.
"Since it first came onto our streets Uber has broken the law, exploited its drivers and refused to take responsibility for the safety of passengers.
"We expect Uber will again embark on a spurious legal challenge against the Mayor and TfL, and we will urge the court to uphold this decision. This immoral company has no place on London's streets."
Uber said the decision would “deprive” Londoners of affordable private hire transport and promised to challenge the ruling in the courts.
