Out of area taxi working to be banned if Labour win election, says Andy Burnham

‘Out of area’ taxi working would be banned under Labour, Andy Burnham has said.

Mr Burnham, speaking on his regular BBC Radio Manchester ‘in the hot seat’ phone in, also said he had verbal confirmation from Louise Haigh, shadow transport minister, that the practice would be stopped.

Out of area working is where taxi drivers register with one local authority, but ply their trade in another part of the country. Many minicabs seen on Greater Manchester roads are registered in Sefton or Wolverhampton.

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Our region's leaders have tried to curb the practice with measures in the new Clean Air Zone, by ensuring only taxi drivers registered in Greater Manchester would be eligible for the clean taxi fund. That is a pot of money available to cabbies to put towards the cost of upgrading or replacing their cars to newer, cleaner models.

Mr Burnham’s revelation on Thursday (February 1) is the first time an outright ban has been touted.

He said: “[On] out of area working — the ‘Wolverhampton Problem’ — I was in Westminster yesterday (January 31), discussing HS2 with the government, but I was also with the shadow transport secretary.

“I got a firm commitment from the shadow transport secretary that out of area working will be stopped under a Labour government.”

Since Mr Burnham spoke on the radio on Thursday morning, a Labour spokesperson has confirmed the party will reform 'minimum licensing standards' to 'address the abuse of cross-border hiring'.

A statement said: “As Labour have already outlined, we will ensure there are minimum licensing standards across local authorities, for taxi and private hire vehicles, including for the safety of passengers, to address the abuse of cross-border hiring.”

In addition to Andy Burnham's comments, the debate surrounding out-of-area taxi working has long been a contentious issue, with drivers and passengers alike raising concerns about safety and regulation inconsistencies.

Critics argue that the current system allows drivers to bypass local standards by registering in areas with less stringent requirements. This has been especially prevalent in cities like Greater Manchester, where many drivers operating locally are registered in distant areas such as Wolverhampton or Sefton.

The proposed changes under a Labour government could bring much-needed uniformity and ensure that local councils maintain control over who operates within their jurisdictions.

A national framework for taxi licensing could not only address these issues but also improve safety standards, giving passengers greater confidence in the service they receive.

Chris Richards, CEO and taxi insurance expert at Simply Quote Insurance, commented on the proposed reforms: "For both drivers and passengers, these changes could be transformative.

"Uniform licensing standards would provide a fairer playing field for drivers and ensure passengers have access to reliable, well-regulated services no matter where they are.

"It's essential that any reform considers both the economic realities for drivers and the safety and satisfaction of the passengers they serve."

The date for the general election has not formally been set, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated it will be held during the ‘second half’ of 2024.