Taxi Driver Online

MIDDLESBROUGH Mayor Ray Mallon is today at the centre of a sex slur storm.

He has apologised unreservedly for the comment made against a council officer.

The slur - which referred to the sex life of an official - was part of hours of recordings secretly made of telephone conversations and meetings between Mr Mallon and Boro Cars chief Mohammed Bashir
Mr Mallon says that he considered standing down from the Mayoral elections but had decided not to and would allow the public to decide if they still want him as Mayor on May 5.

The revelation of the secret tape recordings are the latest and most sensational development in the ongoing feud between Middlesbrough Council and Boro Cars.

Copies of the tapes have also been acquired by the Evening Gazette’s sister newspaper The Sunday Sun.

Boro Cars and Mr Bashir were due to comment after Mr Mallon spoke at a press conference today.

In his statement Mr Mallon claims Mr Bashir had become obsessed with the conflict between Hackney cabs, private hire cabs and Middlesbrough Council.

Mr Mallon also claimed Mr Bashir had been engaged in a campaign to try to stop him being re-elected as Middlesbrough’s Mayor.

Mr Mallon said that in the private conversations he had made it clear in language Mr Bashir would understand that he (the Mayor) rejected totally any suggestion that officers of the council had acted dishonestly.

“I repeated time and time again that the officers were straight and whilst I might not agree with the way they have handled certain situations, I believed they have carried out their jobs with honesty and integrity - something that was confirmed by the court earlier this month.”
Mr Mallon said that after many conversations over many, many hours trying to get the matter through to Mr Bashir he (the Mayor) used an analogy which he should not have.

“Describing one officer, I said the officer was so straight that if they had sex it would be in one position. I realise it was wrong of me to use such an analogy. I would never have used it in a public forum and even though I regarded this as a private conversation I accept I should not have used those words or the industrial language.

“I would just ask people to appreciate that those were one-to-one conversations that sometimes went on for many hours and were never intended for public consumption. I apologised unreservedly to the officer concerned. I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment or upset I have caused the officer, their family and the council.”

In his statement Mr Mallon also said:

That for many years he was a personal friend of Boro Taxis owner Mohammed Bashir but in the last 18 months the friendship became more difficult and strained as Mr Bashir’s conflict with the council and the town’s Hackney trade intensified.

He had telephone conversations and meetings with Mr Bashir that ran for hours at a time and on occasions into the early hours of the morning.

That Mr Bashir was obsessed with the issue and said that Mr Bashir alleged officers were “bent” and that cover-ups had occurred in relation to complaints Mr Bashir had made.

He made clear to Mr Bashir that he should put forward any evidence of criminal offences to the police.

A court case earlier this month vindicated his and the council’s stance.

Claimed Mr Bashir had engaged in a campaign with the specific aim of stopping him (Mr Mallon) becoming Mayor.

A statement by Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough

IN the course of my nine years as Mayor, the issue that has proved the greatest challenge has undoubtedly been the ongoing conflict concerning the taxi trade in the town and in particular matters surrounding one of the biggest private hire firms - Boro Taxis.

For many years I was a personal friend of the owner of Boro Taxis, Mohammed Bashir but, over the last 18 months, as his conflict with the council and the Hackney trade of the town intensified, this friendship became more and more difficult and strained.

I was spending upwards of 10 hours a week dealing with this single issue and attempting to resolve the increasingly intense conflict between Hackney cabs, private hire cabs and the council.

Often these telephones and meetings with Mr Bashir would run for hours at a time and, on occasions, into the early morning.

To say Mr Bashir was obsessed with the issue would be an understatement and it reached the point where I felt I had to place on record my exact position, so Mr Bashir was under no illusion as to where I stood.

Therefore, I wrote a letter to Mr Bashir in March 2010, outlining in broad terms some of the accusations he had made against council officers and myself.

Mr Bashir alleged officers were “bent” and that cover-ups had occurred in relation to previous complaints he had made. I made it clear to him that he should forward any evidence of criminal offences to the police.

I also made clear the appropriate procedure should he have complaints about the professional conduct of officers or myself.

Earlier this month Mr Bashir had the opportunity to put all of his evidence and accusations before a court, including details of all the conversations he had had with me.

The finding of the court was clear-cut, it vindicated the stance myself and the council have taken over this matter. Judge John Foster commented: “It is my view that the council’s officers sought to be fair throughout the proceedings.”

He added: “It is my view that the council sought a compromise solution and, in doing so, were not taking the side of the Hackney Carriage Association or taking against private hire drivers - they were taking action on behalf of the public at large.

Judge Foster also said: “There is absolutely no evidence before this court of any racial prejudice on the part of the local authority.”

In addition, the judge stated: “I reject the view that the council have acted in a prejudicial way or unfairly towards Boro Cars in the imposition of these conditions.”

I am aware that, following the court case, Mr Bashir has engaged in a campaign with the specific aim of stopping me from becoming Mayor.

Earlier this week I became aware that Mr Bashir had been covertly recording telephone conversations and meetings I have had with him; conversations stretching back many months in which I was trying to resolve matters between him and the council.

The content of many of these conversations were part of the evidence that Mr Bashir presented before the court and which was rejected by the court.

I am now aware that Mr Bashir has supplied some of these secretly recorded conversations to third parties.

Throughout these conversations I made it clear to Mr Bashir in language that he will understand that I reject totally any suggestion that officers of the council have acted dishonestly.

In fact I repeated time and time again that the officers were straight and, whilst I personally might not agree with the way they have handled certain situations, I believe they have carried out their jobs with honesty and integrity - something that was confirmed by the court earlier this month.

After many conversations over many, many hours trying to get this through to Mr Bashir I used an analogy in a conversation six months ago which I now regret.

Describing one officer, I said the officer was so straight that if they had sex it would be in one position. I realise it was wrong of me to use such an analogy, I would never have used it in a public forum and, even though I regarded this as a private conversation, I accept I should not have used those words or the industrial language.

I would just ask people to appreciate that these were one to one conversations that sometimes went on for many hours and were never intended for public consumption.

I have apologised unreservedly to the officer concerned. I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment or upset I have caused the officer, their family and the council.

I am also extremely saddened that someone I regarded for many years as a friend would betray the privacy of our conversations in this way.

I considered standing down from the election in the light of these taped conversations but have concluded that this is not necessary.

The public voted me in and now they can decide in the light of these facts if they still want me as the Mayor.

And that's what it boils down to.

Let them decide.

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IDFIMH

Cant he afford a Super Injunction? they're quite Trendy these days.

Bashir seem a right f*cking nutter!!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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By the sounds of that Bashir needs taking round the back and sorting out.

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

In some circles this comment could be taken as a compliment not a slur.

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http://chestertaxicall.co.uk

the word entrapment springs to mind but that seems to be par for the course these days

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Indeed, but as he is an ex-copper he should know all about that.

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IDFIMH

true but it might be interesting as he's demonstrated that he is prepared to stand up to our asian "friends"

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

He hasn't become Mayor of Middlesbrough because he's a pr*ck or an idiot, has he?

Those voting for him must have thought him a worthy candidate.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Boro Cars taxi boss Mohammed Bashir speaks out on Ray Mallon

The boss of Boro Cars today defended secretly recording hours of conversations with Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon which led to the sex slur storm.

And Mohammed Bashir says he doesn’t think Mr Mallon is “fit for high office.”


Mr Bashir says he made the covert recordings in order to protect his business and hundreds of employees during an ongoing feud between Middlesbrough Council and Boro Cars.

During their conversations, Mr Mallon referred to a council officer and used a sexual analogy in relation to the worker which he has now described as saying that “the officer was so straight that if they had sex it would be in one position”.

The mayor has apologised for the remark. However, Mr Bashir believes it has been misquoted, claiming: “He was not explaining his officers were straight.”

In a statement to the Gazette, Mr Bashir said: “A decision was made to record Ray Mallon in order to protect the company against misinterpretation and so that there could be no challenge to what we said.

“The recordings were only released after Mallon decided to publicly discredit myself and my company following the recent court case.”

The feud between Boro Cars and Middlesbrough Council has rumbled on for two years. It has its roots in a disagreement between Boro Cars and a group of Hackney Carriage drivers over access to the Morrisons supermarket site at Berwick Hills. The council also became embroiled in the dispute.

Since then, Boro Cars and the council have been involved in a long-running battle over taxi issues in the town.

In a recent court case, Boro Cars unsuccessfully sought to appeal against the council’s actions against one of its private hire drivers who parked in a Hackney rank in Wilson Street.

Yesterday Mr Mallon described his one time friend Mr Bashir as being “obsessed” with the issue.

But the Boro Cars boss hit back: “Far from being obsessed, as is the opinion of Mr Mallon, I have a determination that matters are fair for all taxi drivers in the town and I also have a duty to protect my business and the livelihoods of hundreds of people who work at Boro Cars.

“Boro Cars previously had an excellent working relationship with the council until we put our head above the parapet in an attempt to ensure the whole taxi trade is regulated equally.

“I have not engaged in a campaign to stop Mr Mallon from becoming the mayor as that is for the public to decide. However I can confirm that personally, I do not consider him fit for high office.”

Mayor showed ‘lack of judgment’

THE SEXUAL slur incident is a resigning matter, says Chris Foote-Wood, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the May 5 Mayoral poll.

Mr Foote-Wood said that in his view, Mr Mallon had made serious errors of judgment in the past nine years, including on the plans for Gresham.

“He accuses Mr Bashir of being obsessed, but admits to spending 10 hours a week on this one issue alone. No issue involving one individual should take up so much of the mayor’s time. This shows a complete lack of judgment on Mr Mallon’s part. Private telephone calls, hours long in the early hours of the morning are no way to run a council.

“As for Mr Mallon’s disgusting and unacceptable remarks about a wholly innocent council official - his remarks are completely beyond the pale and should not have been made in public or in private by anyone holding a responsible position such as an elected mayor. An apology six month later is too little too late. This is a resigning matter.”

Lloyd Cole-Nolan, the Conservative mayoral candidate, wants people in Middlesbrough to have their say on Mr Mallon’s conduct at the ballot box.

“I want the people of Middlesbrough to send him a message that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable,” he said. “I don’t want him to quit or run away, I want the people of Middlesbrough to have a say.”

The other mayoral candidate, Labour’s Michael J Carr, was unavailable for comment earlier today. But he has been quoted as saying it’s up to Mr Mallon whether he stands or not as “the people will decide for themselves.”


RAY Mallon says the public will be the judge on whether he continues as Middlesbrough mayor.

Mr Mallon has unreservedly apologised for a sexual slur he made against a council officer during a private conversation with Boro Cars boss Mohammed Bashir, which was secretly recorded.

Mr Mallon issued his apology yesterday at a town hall press conference. The taped conversations were about the town’s taxi trade and the council’s taxi licensing regime.

He told the Gazette: “Even though I am very disappointed at the position before me, I am comfortable in the knowledge I have been straight with the public. It is now a matter for them.”

He said at first he considered resigning. “But I then reflected on the situation and concluded it would not be right to resign.”

He said the tape was of a private conversation “where I was trying to defend an officer and I used an analogy to get my point across.”

MIDDLESBROUGH mayor Ray Mallon today defended his use of the word “scumbags” to describe some taxi drivers.

Mr Mallon has explained his remarks exclusively to the Evening Gazette, as the full extent of the covertly recorded discussions with Boro Taxis boss Mohammed Bashir were revealed.

Mr Bashir made the recordings, in which the mayor describes some cabbies as “scumbags”, “thick” and a “rabble” in private conversations with his one time friend.

The recordings also gave rise to the ‘sex slur’ storm where the Mayor used an inappropriate sexual analogy to describe a council officer.

He also claimed Asian taxi drivers are the most badly behaved.

Today the mayor put the “scumbags” comment into context and said he stood by his remarks, citing evidence of cabbies charging £40 to nightclubbers wanting to get from Middlesbrough to Stockton.

He said: “We had a problem in the town with a very small number of taxi drivers who were taking advantage of people coming out of nightclubs and charging them extortionate rates. I was told of an incident where a driver charged £40 to take someone to Stockton from the Arena.

“Behaviour like this is unacceptable, it gives all the taxi trade a bad name and is rightly condemned by the vast majority of drivers. I make no bones about it, those responsible for ripping off the public in this way are scumbags.

“I took the opportunity in a one to one conversation with the boss of one of the area’s largest taxi firms to tell him in no uncertain terms that such behaviour was disgraceful.

“I make clear, I am not saying Boro Taxis is responsible for all the bad behaviour but I have no regrets about confronting Mr Bashir over this and other issues and I would do the same again.”

On Saturday, Mr Bashir defended his decision to make the recordings and then to release them, saying he wanted to protect his business, his employees and the interests of all taxi drivers in the town.

At a press conference subsequently called by Mr Mallon, several executive councillors showed their support for the Mayor. But afterwards, other councillors also called for him to leave office.

Mr Mallon added: “I have been heartened by the support I have received from many people, including councillors and members of the public both in person and via websites, over this taping issue.

“During many, many, hours of private conversation with Mr Bashir, I made a small number of crass comments which were never intended for public consumption and which I deeply regret and it was right that I apologise.

“The feedback I have received is that most people accept that and are now questioning the motives of Mr Bashir in betraying my trust in this way.”

Mr Bashir told the Gazette: “A decision was made to record Ray Mallon in order to protect the company against misinterpretation and so that there could be no challenge to what we said.

“The recordings were only released after Mallon decided to publicly discredit myself and my company following the recent court case.”

Excerpts from the Ray Mallon tapes

Excerpt One

RM: Look, I’m gonna give you a professional judgement. I don’t want you to say this to ... it’s up to you. I wouldn’t like you to. But I will just say this to you. I don’t think is malicious, I don’t, I think she is **** stupid, that’s what I think. I see it all over the council. I genuinely believe that what she is I’ll tell you what, ’s the kind of woman if she ****ing had sex it would be in one position every night. Did you hear me?

MB: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

RM: That’s what she’s like. She’s rigid. She’s rigid. You know. You’re supposed to laugh at what I have just said.

MB: I know I have. I am.

RM: Well, **** laugh.

MB: Ha ha. All right then.

RM: You know. She’s rigid. She’s absolutely rigid. She’s got no creative thinking. She doesn’t step outside the box. I know you think that she’s malicious, I don’t think she is.

Excerpt 2

RM: It’s a matter of the intelligence that we have where we’ve got to target these people.

But again some of the private hire, some of your people. I’ve watched them this week, I’m not going to get into it, Bash.

If you saw what I’ve seen this week you would batter them actually ‘cause I felt like battering them last night outside the Thistle Hotel.

I didn’t say anything, I thought it’s not my place to say it.

But to be fair, Boro Taxis with the number of taxis you have pro rata it’s not bad actually, it’s others....and there’s others in the town as well.

But I’ve got to say from where I sit and maybe cause there is more Hackneys on the road at any one time than private hire, I see more bad behaviour from hackneys than what I do from private hire.

You know what, I’ll give you a good start. I’ll tell you which people are the most badly behaved on the Hackney side: Asians.

MB: True.

RM: Asian people. Now, I’m no racist.

MB: Absolutely. Yeah I agree.

RM: We all know it. The Asians. And you know what it’s probably the same on your side as well: your Asian drivers.

Excerpt 3

RM: I have actually engineered the process....

I know it sounds really **** horrible but who’s the boss of Boro Taxis?

MB: Me

RM: Well I’m the boss here but remember this, I’m prevented from doing my job because of my conflict of interest with you and I’ll tell you what I think.

I think I have played a **** blinder today.

MB: Excellent

RM: Because I have actually got away with murder because I’ve declared my friendship with you in that meeting and still been able to do what I want to do.

Excerpt 4

RM: I’ll tell you what Bash, between us, it sucked the **** energy out of me. I’m still recovering now. Y’know, it was such a bad meeting.

MB: I’m telling you.

RM: It was absolutely awful.

MB: They’re all a pack of clowns to tell you the truth, Ray.

RM: No, they’re not clowns. Some of them are **** scumbags.

MB: Yup.

RM: That’s what they are.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -28578963/
Click above to listern to the tapes.

So, do we agree with Mallon that some Taxi drivers are scum and should he be saying so?

Some drivers are scum, and I'm all for saying so.

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IDFIMH

I think the Mayor is right.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin