This is worth reading on Taxi Point - I'd say this is maybe overegging things a bit, but certainly much food for thought here, particularly for those interested in how things will change at the Westminster level, and how that will impact local licensing.
(Don't want to be picky, but a bit of inconsistency with the terminology here - 'taxi' seems to initially be referring to HCs, as opposed to the whole industry. But then the piece specifically refers to HC drivers.
Also 'charging schemes' and the like is potentially confusing when referring to the emissions and environmental stuff - I think that's referring to fees for accessing geographical areas (particularly city centres) as opposed to EV stuff specifically
)
Could Andy Burnham become the Prime Minister taxi drivers have waited for?https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/could ... waited-forFew politicians in recent years have spoken more frequently or forcefully about taxi and private hire issues than Andy Burnham. While speculation around his future political ambitions regularly surfaces, even more so in the last few days, the question for many within the taxi industry is straightforward: if Burnham ever reached Number 10, would he be good for the trade?Judging purely on his record as Mayor of Greater Manchester, taxi drivers would likely find plenty to support.
Burnham has positioned himself as one of the strongest critics of England’s current taxi and private hire licensing framework, repeatedly describing it as a “broken taxi system”. His most high-profile campaign has centred on ending the widespread practice of private hire drivers being licensed in one authority while operating predominantly in another area. The issue has become a major concern for many taxi drivers and local authorities, particularly in regions where large numbers of drivers are licensed hundreds of miles away from where they actually work.
In September 2025, Burnham said: “For too long, communities in Greater Manchester and across the country have been at the mercy of a broken taxi system that allows private hire vehicles and drivers to be licensed hundreds of miles away from where they live and operate.” He added: “This is not just a matter of fairness for locally licensed drivers to protect their livelihoods, it’s a matter of public safety.”
Those comments closely aligned with concerns regularly raised by licensed taxi drivers across England, particularly in areas where locally licensed drivers believe they are competing against operators benefiting from less stringent licensing requirements elsewhere.
TaxiPoint has reported extensively on Burnham’s campaign, including his calls for legislative reform, stronger local control and greater accountability within licensing. His push has not been limited to rhetoric, with Greater Manchester launching its “Backing Our Taxis” campaign in 2025, aimed at securing changes to national legislation and strengthening support for locally licensed drivers.
For many in the hackney carriage sector, this willingness to publicly champion drivers’ concerns stands out. Unlike some national politicians who only engage with the industry during consultations or election campaigns, Burnham has consistently returned to taxi issues as part of his wider transport agenda.
Another area where Burnham has attracted support is vehicle transition policy.
When Greater Manchester faced pressure to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone, Burnham opposed plans that would have imposed charges on non-compliant vehicles. Instead, he argued for investment-led solutions and grant funding to help drivers upgrade vehicles. In 2023 he stated that charging schemes were “not morally defensible” in the post-pandemic environment and advocated financial assistance rather than penalties.
His alternative strategy included millions of pounds in funding support for taxi upgrades, including grants designed to help drivers move towards cleaner vehicles without bearing the full financial burden themselves.
That approach resonated with many drivers who felt environmental policies often overlooked the financial realities of self-employment. Rather than framing taxi drivers as part of the pollution problem, Burnham consistently argued they should be supported through transition rather than punished through taxation and charging schemes.
There are also signs that Burnham understands the wider economic importance of the sector.
In November 2025 he described taxis as “vital to our transport system and local economy”, while pushing for reforms designed to improve public confidence and create a fairer operating environment.
His campaign proposals extended beyond licensing reform. Burnham also called for the continuation of the Plug-in Taxi Grant, VAT exemptions for wheelchair-accessible taxis and reductions in VAT rates for public EV charging. These are all policies that would directly affect operating costs for drivers and fleet owners.
However, not every driver would necessarily welcome a Burnham premiership.
Some private hire operators have argued that out-of-area licensing became popular because of inefficiencies, delays and inconsistent standards among local authorities. Burnham himself has acknowledged that licensing systems need improvement and that some drivers seek licences elsewhere because applications can be processed more quickly and at lower cost.
Critics could also point out that many of Burnham’s proposals have been developed within a city-region framework. Running a national transport system would require balancing competing interests between local authorities, operators, drivers, passengers and regulators across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yet if there is one consistent theme running through Burnham’s approach, it is his belief that local accountability matters.
Whether discussing licensing reform, vehicle funding or transport integration, he has repeatedly argued for policies that place greater control closer to the communities affected by them. For taxi drivers frustrated by years of debate over cross-border licensing, enforcement inconsistencies and rising vehicle costs, that message has often found a receptive audience.
Would Andy Burnham be a good Prime Minister for the taxi industry?
Based on his record so far, many taxi drivers would likely argue that he already speaks their language more fluently than most national politicians. His support for licensing reform, opposition to driver charging schemes, backing for vehicle grants and willingness to publicly defend the trade suggest a Prime Minister Burnham could place taxi issues higher on the national agenda than they have been for many years.
Whether that would ultimately translate into meaningful nationwide change would depend on Parliament, government priorities and funding. But on the evidence available today, Burnham has built a stronger relationship with the taxi sector than most politicians who have ever been seriously discussed as potential future prime ministers.
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