Taxi Driver Online

Post the link.

Wolfie, you understand the quote I made from Billy Connelly "the desire to be a politician should bar you for life from ever becoming one".

The cost to this country because of the desire of one man to engage with America against Afghanistan and Iraq in the war against "terror" is far more than monetary.

The man in charge was not elected, Tony Blair was only elected to represent his constituency by the public who live there. The decision for him to become Party Leader was taken by people in prominent positions within the Labour Party and that is how he is Prime Minister.

Mr Blair is not the only disgrace from political circles .................. it was only last week that the final repayment to the Americans was made following their loan from the second world war. If my memories serves me correct the figures were something like a £4 billion loan repaid over 60 years with the total repayable £250 billion.

What I'm saying here Wolfie is that the argument you offer is that Prince Charles ponces off the public purse, and you state that it should not be tolerated ............ that being the case should we not also view the money wasted by politicians who, worse still, waste our money in our name for their own gain.

I'm not clever enough to change the world mate, I'm just a thick geordie that drives taxis.

Long live the Queen.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

GA you might have perceived im no Blairite, your right about the method of appointing the PM.But its been that way for 100yrs at least. The debate is as i see it, a different electoral system Proportianal Representation or you were implying NO elections obtain the job by birthright. Id look at PR but would hate to see our democracy destroyed for anyone. And of course no-one is advocating it [except you].
You point out that the Yanks are loan sharks you just noticed?
Politcians waste money for self interest, of course whats new, however we can change them at the moment.
Charlie is a ponce no argument, what galls is that he appears to be beyond control, acceptable in democracy,? if the Country want a Royal family, I would expect they require them to be HONEST, and subject to the same laws as the rest of us surely?
You and me wont change the world but our opinions are as valid as anyone elses.The GMB though will change this industry, this issue might be of more importance to us BOTH?
UP THE REPUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Wolfie, I suggested that the best people available should be making the decisions and that we should have the "vote" deciding who should be appointed based on anything other than a persons "politics".

I don't see how democracy would be lost if we retained the monarch as the head of state, as the government is Her Majesty's Government anyway.

The GMB will definatly have an impact Wolfie, but I feel a more positive impact would come from all the major representative bodies getting together and solving all the major issues which effect all sides of the trade.

The NTA are (I believe) now talking regularly with the NPHA, something I thought would never happen .................... and I would bet that the T&G and the GMB would be more than welcome at the same table, if that is they left their ego at the door and were serious about achieving the discussed goals.

Here's to 2007 ................ the year of taxi and private hire reform.

All the best.

Long live the Queen.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

GA on your issues regarding our industrys, employers and drivers orgs meet regularly under the banner of the Private Hire Board.Our relationship with the T&G and LTDA can be described as cordial, ther are of course many other Hack orgs who i have little contact with. .If our industrys are going to reform for our benifit, we need to accept the fact that the only way will be through National politicians.IE new legislation formulated with all of our guidance.
What we continually see on here, are reams of legal jargon and advice on how to deal with it,IE merely TWEAKING it. That legislation is now increasingly inoperable. For some obscure reason some posters think reforming the Legislation can be done without entering the political arena, however they are continiously incapable of explaining HOW. In my view we are now in a period of opportunity where we should be vigourously influencing the local elections, this idea is falling on deaf ears, in the TU movement we are mystified as to why?
The influence exerted by TU.s should not be underestimated, recently in Brighton the GMBs influence resulted in 20 hack licences being issued, as against the norm of 5 per annum.I would not be suprised if some posters to this site benefited. During the coming few monthe the GMB in Brighton will be working keenly to ensure a Labour Brighton in May. the Labour group have proved their willingness to work with the GMB on many issues, a Labour council would be very much to the benefit of the industry there.Given that it works there , why not other parts of the country. and then at the general election???????????????
DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY THOSE THAT TURN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Wolfie, that has not been my experiences nor the experiences of many of my regional colleagues.

Exerting influence ........... what exactly does that mean?

In the past 4 months NO hack licenses have been issued in Gateshead.

We tried the TU route and got nowt ................... they showed clearly the influence TU's have over New Labour.

I can tell you that my life as a HC driver and plate-holder in Gateshead has got worse under this "new" Labour government ................. why then would I want to see them continue in government.

Also why would I want to blindly follow a political party to which I have no say in who leads it, in fact no-one knows who will lead either of the two main parties into government after the next election.

I say its time for a change ..................... and the only place I can see the cross on my ballot paper is next to UKIP.

Reports of your unions acceptance of European migrant workers typifies its greed for greater numbers of subscriptions. I have requested the stance of my own union and if it is the same as the GMB then I will be cancelling my subscription.



I would gladly welcome adoption of the London Private Hire Act across the whole country, but I fail to see how the business of a Hackney Carriage has changed since 1847.

I know that vehicles have changed, but in reality the purpose of a Hackney Carriage is to wait at a prescribed point or be available within a prescribed area to accept immediate hirings.

The real problem is that the 1976 act confused and allowed different interpretation of the law, and as PH operations have grown larger they have sought to monopolise their area of operation. This had led to the discoverance of "loopholes" in legislation which PH operators have exploited for their own financial reward.

The growth of these PH operations has enticed HC drivers into working on that circuit with the promise of increased earnings, and of course the fact that if a PH operation has a single HC working within it, the PH operator can use the word TAXIS within its trading name.

How I wonder would the boys in London react if a licensed private hire operation was able to use the word TAXIS within its trading name ................. although I imagine that the LPH Act would not allow it.

Roll out the LPH Act across the whole country and then see what changes need to be made to HC legislation.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

I would suggest backing any political party towards election time maybe counter productive, especially with local elections.

Backing a particular political party would seem to be only of use if you could guarantee that party would be in power at the end of the election.

Indeed, as licensing committees are made up of the various groups, it could turn out to be not a sensible decision at all.

CC

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

GA your going to vote for UKIP enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

What I said was that at the moment the only direction I can see my vote going is to UKIP.

Who leads the Labour or Conservative parties .............. what are their policies ?

As I have pointed out before, I don't vote for the most powerful person within the government, so why would I vote for a political party when I don't know either who would be leading the party or what they stand for.

I have supported the Labour movement all of my adult life Wolfie, but through NEW Labour they have screwed us over and I cannot support my own destruction any more.

If the Labour party returned to their original ethic I would have no hesitation is putting my cross next to the Labour candidate.

The unions need to understand that an awful lot of their members will be asking the same questions I am ................. and they have power because of their membership. Blind support of a political party because of their activity 30 years ago is foolhardy, this lot are conservative with a red tie.


I notice you make no referance to the other points raised within my posts ......... Roll out the LPH Act across the country?

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

GA i cant deal with all your points on here, if your old LABOUR ggreat why not give me a bell some time 07958275339 off out now to cause HAVOC to some nasty scum that run a chaueffeur company. All the best WOLFIE THE TROT??????????????????????????????????????????

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Wolfie I'm sure you could at least try to explain why, in your opinion, legislation needs to be changed when there are already laws on the books which, if adopted by councils, could possibly solve an awful lot of the problems people on here encounter every day.

Surely you would agree that the London Private Hire Act should be rolled out across the country as a matter of urgency, and then we can look at changing Hackney Carriage IF required.
I stand by my earlier statement that the operation of a Hackney Carriage has changed very little since 1847 in the eyes of the law and so doubt not many changes need to be made.

It would also be quicker to impliment and then we could all benefit from the changes sooner.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

What's so special about the London act?

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IDFIMH

Isnt it the 1976 act with bells on

CC

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

It provides the most up to date legislation regarding the carriage of people for hire and reward.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

You know were getting there, I dont have the kjnowledge of the acts many of you have. Our role is to open the political doors, be directed by the membership[which should be ALL of you]after negotiations with, ALL other industry bodies, formullate and pursue our AIMS.
My questions, can hack and phv work together NATIONALLY, I see no evidence of this on HERE!
Are we now recognising the need for reform, and agreeing that the political route [not LEGAL as JD and others promote] is the one most likely to meet our aims?
We think the industrys are in an appalling mess, divide and rule exploitation are the norm, anyone want to join us in getting the industries bodies around the table??????????????????????
DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY THOSE THAT TURN UP!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.