Blackpool MP first to publicly support taxi licensing reform through Mayor Burnham’s ‘Backing Our Taxis’ campaign
- Perry Richardson
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Last week the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, called for urgent reform to England’s taxi licensing rules. He said the region’s efforts to improve standards for taxi and private hire licensing are being undercut by drivers operating under licences issued by other local authorities.
Burnham warned that Greater Manchester’s new licensing framework, aimed at raising safety and quality across its ten local areas, risks being undermined unless the law is changed. As a result, the city region has launched the ‘Backing Our Taxis’ campaign.
The campaign seeks to close the legal loophole that allows taxi and private hire drivers to work in one area despite being licensed by another, often with weaker safety checks and lower standards. Greater Manchester wants councils across the country to support the campaign, which calls on the Government to update taxi laws in England.
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb was the first to express direct support for the campaign. Webb said: “This is exactly what I’ve been demanding since my first parliamentary question nearly a year ago.
“Andy is absolutely right, we need more local control over taxis in places like Blackpool. We must back our local taxis.”
Under current rules, a driver can be licensed in one part of the country and operate elsewhere without being subject to that local authority’s regulations. This has caused concern among council leaders and trade representatives, who say it undermines attempts to improve passenger safety, driver conditions and public confidence.
Greater Manchester’s own licensing reforms include common minimum standards and a locally managed licensing system. But local leaders say this system can only work effectively if national laws are updated to give licensing authorities control over who can operate in their areas.
The campaign is asking the public to write to their councils urging them to back the proposed changes and pressure the Government to act.
