A Unite press release - nothing particularly new here, but they had to get a specific dig in about the Gatwick Airport scenario.
Funny, though, that after months and months of claims and allusions to illegality, they're not actually saying that now
Casey child safeguarding report recommendations must be adopted taxi drivers tell Parliament
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-even ... parliament
“Out of area” licensing loophole endangering passengers and destroying livelihoods
Taxi drivers will protest outside Parliament on Wednesday demanding the government adopt the Casey report’s recommendation that the ‘out of area’ licensing loophole is immediately closed.
When: 10:00 Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Where: Parliament Square Garden, opposite Parliament, SW1P 3BD
(See notes to editors to arrange interviews with taxi drivers and Unite officials)
Baroness Casey’s audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse recommended in June that the loophole allowing taxi drivers to apply for licensing anywhere in the country be closed immediately.
The loophole has created a market for licence shopping, where drivers obtain licences from authorities with the least stringent standards.
For example, Wolverhampton council has issued over 50,000 licences, far exceeding local demand. The vast majority work many miles away from Wolverhampton, well beyond the regulatory reach of the licensing authority.
Unite, which represents both private hire and Hackney drivers, said its members across the country have also long called for the loophole to be closed because:
• Passengers are left with inconsistent safety standards depending on where the driver is licensed
• Local councils cannot enforce the rules on the drivers working in their area
• Local drivers who follow the rules lose work to out-of-area operators
• Big operators, such as Uber, exploit loopholes while local workers and communities pay the price.
The problem is particularly stark at Gatwick Airport, which has struck a sponsorship deal with Uber, even though Uber is licensed by Transport for London, not Crawley Borough Council.
Thousands of out-of-area drivers now work at Gatwick, while local drivers have been pushed out and have had their livelihoods destroyed.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government needs to take urgent action to close this loophole, which is putting passenger safety at risk and causing untold damage to the incomes of taxi drivers across the country. Ultimately, the only ones to benefit are companies like Uber, which are exploiting the legislation to create a race to the bottom in the private hire car sector.”
ENDS
For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.
Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org
Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.
