We can report that one cabbie is set to make a profit of £30,000 from a new licence issued by the city council that cost him just £180 a few weeks ago.

The news, that is bound to renew calls for the scrapping of the present taxi licence lottery system, comes at the same time that some city cab drivers are embroiled in a row over displaying the Flag of St George in their vehicles.

The news that cabbie Shouyb Mohammad Yaqub, who “won” his new licence in a controversial secret lottery last year, is now set to make tens of thousands of pounds in such a short time has caused more anger.

Why can't Manchester just issue the plates under a fairer system than the lottery?

Something like years working in the trade full-time, and not having been issued a plate before.

Or just issue plates to anyone who wants one.

Just issuing to anyone, will be the only answer. I have had an argument with somebody today in Manchester who gave me the same old sh*t. If they de-limt they will fall foul of emmissions laws, there is nowhere to rank, people will go bankrupt, there are to many cabs etc. Evidence is proof. If you take Taxis and PH as one sum total. Where de-limiting has taken place the overall number of vehicles has reduced. Private hire nimbers have been decimated as they converted to hackneys. So less vehicles mean less emmissions. If people have nowhere to rank and there are less PH vehicles, so hackneys will join PH circuits. People are less likely to go bankrupt because there are less vehicles, less emmissions and more importantly less cost. The only thing against de-limiting is the loss of plate value. Big deal, it will mean you can rent a cab at London Values. An old cab in London (the dearest city in England) cost £160 a week to rent. Here in Manchester, my nightman and I, pay £430 a week for a nine year old banger. De-limit, bring it on.