Taxi Driver Online replies to a recent critical article by Derek Cummins, assistant editor of Taxi Talk magazine.

Mr Cummins used phrases such as 'bitter divide' and 'animosity and sheer hatred' to describe the debate surrounding derestriction of taxi numbers.  Sadly, we cannot disagree with that, but he attributes this schism directly to derestriction.  However, perhaps the issue is better looked at from a wider standpoint, since it is clearly the restriction of numbers initially that is the cause of the divide that Mr Cummins rightly refers to.  Clearly, where a group of people are afforded privileged treatment, there will be understandable resentment from those not so treated, and discrimination is clearly regarded as undesirable in civilized societies, which is why legislation has been passed in the UK and in other countries to outlaw discrimination on certain grounds - in its response to the OFT the Government was clearly alluding to moral arguments of this type when it said that it was wrong 'in principle' to deny suitably qualified people a taxi vehicle license.  But coming back to Mr Cummins' point, clearly when it is proposed to end preferential treatment there will be resentment from those affected - turkeys don't vote for Christmas.  Clearly this is undesirable, put the source of the conflict is the implementation of restricted numbers in the first place, and that some object to their dismantling is hardly a reason not to.

However, Mr Cummins' main argument essentially amounts to an accusation of cynicism - when the 'wannaplates' get a plate then they suddenly 'go native' and become a 'gorraplate' and argue against further plates being issued.  Mr Cummins is right to be cynical, but in essence his argument amounts to nothing more than saying that the gorraplates are as self-interested as the original plate holder group who managed to have restrictions put in place, and those who were subsequently instrumental in having them left in place.  Unfortunately, this self-interest seems to represent the human condition, so it can hardly be used as an argument against the wannaplates, since the original plates were clearly handed out 'on demand' and then restricted, and it should therefore come as no surprise if the wannaplates act likewise.

Of course, these arguments are generalisations, since no two people will think in exactly the same manner, but our objection to the Taxi Talk argument is that it is made against Taxi Driver Online in particular.

We have in fact in the past been critical of the type of cynical attitude that Mr Cummins describes, so it's surprising that he should now make such an accusation.  In our Myth and Reality document we said, at the top of page 54:

"The T&G cites several examples where numbers have been de-restricted then re-restricted again.  While whether or not the plate cartels have been in operation on an interrupted basis or not does not really seem relevant to the debate, one point worth noting is the ‘drawbridge mentality’ that often afflicts those outside the cartel when they are granted a plate – the ‘too many taxis’ mantra then becomes their guiding principle.  Thus there is obviously some pressure in restricted locations to de-restrict, but when this happens at that moment in time there is no one outside the cartel wanting in, thus the drawbridge mentality is more likely to prevail at this time, and the cartel may be re-established."

Of course, it should also be pointed out, without appearing to state the obvious, that the Taxi Driver Online has never argued for the selective issue of plates or for the clearly ludicrous policy of derestriction immediately followed by re-restriction.  Moreover, if this site's position on restricted numbers changes in the future in the cynical way described by Mr Cummins then it should go without saying that Taxi Driver Online would be left with little in the way of credibility on the issue

However, Mr Cummins himself should be well aware of the kind of cynical self-interest that he now criticises.  Around a year ago the editor of Taxi Talk argued:

"Delimitation took place on Wirral in February 2002, apart from some honourable exceptions Wirral received no support whatsoever, in fact it was worse than that, other areas seemed to think it was a big joke. The two individuals, Derek Cummins and Mark Royden who headed the fight and indeed myself, as already mentioned never tired of warning the cab trade that something was afoot and that the trade should start to campaign sooner rather than later."

No one should need reminding that it was the wannaplate Mr Royden who received a plate in the still restricted Wirral, but subsequent to becoming a gorraplate objected to others being given the same opportunity and launched the well known legal action.

So perhaps Mr Cummins' criticism derives more from the first hand experience of his colleagues rather than more general evidence, but as was stated further up this article, he is right to be cynical in any case.

But even if Mr Cummins' argument did hold any water in relation to Taxi Driver Online, then it would still be slightly less cynical than in Mr Royden's case, since even if both we and Mr Royden 'went gorraplate' after receiving a taxi license, at least we have argued the case for derestriction and thus plates for all those who want one and are suitably qualified, which has clearly never been the case with Mr Royden.

Of course, it would be disingenuous of us to claim that none of those associated with the ownership of this site have an interest in being granted a taxi plate, but on the other hand the lead author of Myth and Reality is a taxi plate holder in an unrestricted area.

Taxi Driver Online will never make the case for restricted taxi numbers.

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