Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
I asked about Jack the other day and someone said he'd been on Twitter very recently.
Thanks. I know he'd considered leaving PB and was hoping it was that rather than anything more serious although he is of course a loss.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that and sincerely echo all previous commiserations.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Zac’s problem wasn’t being too posh. His problem was his right wing dog whistling campaign.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
Was it Khan's decision? I know he's endorsed it but I thought the responsibility rests with TfL.
He's the fucking chairman of TFL.
Point of order - it's TfL, small "f".
This is one area of politics I know reasonably well. There is no way that this decision wouldn't have been taken without Khan's support, if not his direct initiative. It seems to have come completely out of the blue. I don't know if anyone has read the mayor's transport strategy (draft out in June) - it's quite radical in both its layout and intention: but the theme is that far more people will own a car in future. If this is to take place - as the document acknowledges - there will be a significant role for taxis and private hire vehicles. To suddenly cut the largest supplier seems bafflingly unconnected to any strategy.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Khan will certainly stand again in 2020. Lord Sugar loathes Sadiq Khan and might fancy his chances as an independent if there is no decent Tory candidate.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
d.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There are apparently 40,000 uber drivers in London but those black cab drivers who are reacting are 'over the moon'.
The Knowledge is pointless. It's dead. It's over. Why spend two years learning to do what Google Maps does instantly and often better.
It's like learning to manufacture typewriters, or speak Cornish, or use goose-quills.
I feel genuinely sorry for black cab drivers, but Uber is so obviously superior product, and these apps are so obviously the future, their fight is futile and this is a delusional victory. Even if Uber is banned (which I doubt, the backlash in their favour is so intense), something very similar will fill the void.
What happened to journalists (and musicians, and blacksmiths, and coal miners), is happening to cabbies. So the world turns.
I worked in the city after graduating in 2007 - 2009 and ran a lot of errands around central london. The company had a policy that we should always use black cabs. We were actually banned from using addison Lee.
One of the reasons was that minicabs using sat navs ended up taking the wrong routes and getting stuck in traffic jams. Nothing worse than being stuck in a cab with a driver who cant speak english obediently following instructions on the sat nav going completely the wrong way, when you are running late for an appointment.
Not sure if it has improved, but I am still sympathetic to the cab drivers. Outside of London minicabs are generally fine, but in London I always use black cabs.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There are apparently 40,000 uber drivers in London but those black cab drivers who are reacting are 'over the moon'.
The Knowledge is pointless. It's dead. It's over. Why spend two years learning to do what Google Maps does instantly and often better.
It's like learning to manufacture typewriters, or speak Cornish, or use goose-quills.
I feel genuinely sorry for black cab drivers, but Uber is so obviously superior product, and these apps are so obviously the future, their fight is futile and this is a delusional victory. Even if Uber is banned (which I doubt, the backlash in their favour is so intense), something very similar will fill the void.
What happened to journalists (and musicians, and blacksmiths, and coal miners), is happening to cabbies. So the world turns.
If black cab drivers are to survive they need to offer a superior product to Uber, whether commentary on sites of interest, higher quality seating etc
On Mark Senior: can I add my condolences. A long-time stalwart of the site: always bafflingly well-informed, always worth reading. A highlky partisan Lib Dem - but can the word 'partisan' be applied to someone with such a love of, and adherence to, the dry statistics? I will miss him. I think he is worthy of a thread - perhaps illustrated by the picture of him about to be hit over the head with a chair that he supplied when he won a competition back around 2007?
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Agree Khan is pretty vacuous, though. But the Tories have a real problem in and with London. It's getting more Labour and it's hard to see that changing given broader developments.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Khan will certainly stand again in 2020. Lord Sugar loathes Sadiq Khan and might fancy his chances as an independent if there is no decent Tory candidate.
I can't see a TV celeb like the star of the apprentice reaching high office.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Khan will certainly stand again in 2020. Lord Sugar loathes Sadiq Khan and might fancy his chances as an independent if there is no decent Tory candidate.
I can't see a TV celeb like the star of the apprentice reaching high office.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Zac’s problem wasn’t being too posh. His problem was his right wing dog whistling campaign.
It didn’t fit him.
He was polished - he spread turd on himself.
It sure did not fit him . I thought he had a chance if he was a posh green liberal Tory who did not always follow the party line, but the dog whistle campaign had a horrible stench.
The attack of creativity and innovation is futile. If Uber is not reinstated, users will just move onto the next best alternative (which I need to find asap as black cabs are so last century).
In London, Uber was just a better way of booking a minicab, so find out who your local minicab firms are and store their numbers. Minicabs had been cleaned up already under Ken, and if they weren't so fractured, they'd have adopted an industry wide app themselves.
Come to think of it, TfL should commission the app. Mayor Sadiq can have that idea for free.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
Personally I always use City taxis here in Sheffield.
But Uber does provide the service of keeping them at an honest price. Knowing Uber's business model and economies of scale, worth going with the local operator (They're pretty much the same price point) since if Uber ever squeezes City out then there is no chance of a CityTaxi comeback whereas Uber isn't going anywhere medium term.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a good non-posh Tory candidate could have the beating of Khan. Khan is vacuous and ineffectual. Will he even fight again if he can get back into the Commons, and aim for the leadership?
Khan will certainly stand again in 2020. Lord Sugar loathes Sadiq Khan and might fancy his chances as an independent if there is no decent Tory candidate.
I can't see a TV celeb like the star of the apprentice reaching high office.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
Condolences to his family and friends. Only rarely sparred with him. Well informed and tenacious in his beliefs. Sleep well.
The attack of creativity and innovation is futile. If Uber is not reinstated, users will just move onto the next best alternative (which I need to find asap as black cabs are so last century).
In London, Uber was just a better way of booking a minicab, so find out who your local minicab firms are and store their numbers. Minicabs had been cleaned up already under Ken, and if they weren't so fractured, they'd have adopted an industry wide app themselves.
Come to think of it, TfL should commission the app. Mayor Sadiq can have that idea for free.
Uber is appealing and can keep operating until all avenues are exhausted, so it's not going anywhere for a while, at least. It will either win the appeal or change to abide by TfL's rules.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, ne Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
I was quite disappointed Zac didnt edge it.
Khan has been completely useless.
The Tories need to find someone similar to Andy Street.
Yes, a ?
Zac’s problem wasn’t being too
It sure did not fit him . I thought he had a chance if he was a posh green liberal Tory who did not always follow the party line, but the dog whistle campaign had a horrible stench.
Zac's problem was he failed to really appeal to the outer London suburbs, beyond his own patch of southwest London. No Tory will ever win inner London beyond the richest parts of west London but Boris won by winning suburban London by a big enough margin to offset Livingstone's margin in the inner city
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
I asked about Jack the other day and someone said he'd been on Twitter very recently.
I said HL was tweeting, but I am not sure that JackW ever twittered:
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years. Taxis provide much of the opportunity for these to develop, in that both drugs suppliers and users and those in social care or at special schools are heavy users of taxi services. In fact, problems in the taxi industry around criminal opportunities predates the industry so heavily employing Muslims.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
Was it Khan's decision? I know he's endorsed it but I thought the responsibility rests with TfL.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years. Taxis provide much of the opportunity for these to develop, in that both drugs suppliers and users and those in social care or at special schools are heavy users of taxi services. In fact, problems in the taxi industry around criminal opportunities predates the industry so heavily employing Muslims.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
I find black cabs excellent. I've never used Uber, but then, I read books rather than use a kindle.
There are probably a lot of people like me, who are about a generation behind the times, technologically (in the same way that in several Western societies, peak horse was in the 1950's).
I think a lot of people will be furious, and a lot of people will be delighted by this decision. I don't know whether it harms or benefits Khan.
I'd agree with you that it probably annoys the sorts of people who vote Labour, but it will please the sort of people who vote Conservative.
One of the reasons was that minicabs using sat navs ended up taking the wrong routes and getting stuck in traffic jams. Nothing worse than being stuck in a cab with a driver who cant speak english obediently following instructions on the sat nav going completely the wrong way, when you are running late for an appointment.
I stopped at Burton services, M6 Northbound today, and was approached by a confused van driver.
He had left Birmingham, following his sat nav, and was wondering how much further it was to Swansea...
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years. Taxis provide much of the opportunity for these to develop, in that both drugs suppliers and users and those in social care or at special schools are heavy users of taxi services. In fact, problems in the taxi industry around criminal opportunities predates the industry so heavily employing Muslims.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signaeptories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
Was it Khan's decision? I know he's endorsed it but I thought the responsibility rests with TfL.
The attack of creativity and innovation is futile. If Uber is not reinstated, users will just move onto the next best alternative (which I need to find asap as black cabs are so last century).
In London, Uber was just a better way of booking a minicab, so find out who your local minicab firms are and store their numbers. Minicabs had been cleaned up already under Ken, and if they weren't so fractured, they'd have adopted an industry wide app themselves.
Come to think of it, TfL should commission the app. Mayor Sadiq can have that idea for free.
Uber is appealing and can keep operating until all avenues are exhausted, so it's not going anywhere for a while, at least. It will either win the appeal or change to abide by TfL's rules.
If it changes to meet the rules everyone is a winner*.
Sorry to hear about Mark Senior, he carried a torch in dark times.
* I was interested to read about their lack of profits, is there an equivalent to anti-dumping legislation for service industries? If not then perhaps this is a way to rein in some of the abusive international service companies.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career. Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
I find black cabs excellent. I've never used Uber, but then, I read books rather than use a kindle.
There are probably a lot of people like me, who are about a generation behind the times, technologically (in the same way that in several Western societies, peak horse was in the 1950's).
I think a lot of people will be furious, and a lot of people will be delighted by this decision. I don't know whether it harms or benefits Khan.
I'd agree with you that it probably annoys the sorts of people who vote Labour, but it will please the sort of people who vote Conservative.
I have never used Uber in York, my daughter uses them all the time in Leeds .As in London the official cabbies in York are protesting all the time against Uber.I am sure there will be compromise in London when the safety issues are addressed .
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years. Taxis provide much of the opportunity for these to develop, in that both drugs suppliers and users and those in social care or at special schools are heavy users of taxi services. In fact, problems in the taxi industry around criminal opportunities predates the industry so heavily employing Muslims.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signaeptories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
Was it Khan's decision? I know he's endorsed it but I thought the responsibility rests with TfL.
Sad to report that Mark Senior sadly passed away last week. He had been a regular poster on PB for more than a decade and played a big part in our local elections discussions. He will be missed.
Thanks for confirming Mike.
Sad news indeed. If you can get in touch with Mark's family please pass on my condolences.
I don't tend to get involved with laying bets, but if anyone fancies betting against Bayern this season (they're 1/7 for the Bundesliga and 13/2 for the Champions League), they look very average.
Sad to hear about Mark Senior. First came across him at the UK Polling Report site before discovering this site and he was always knowledgeable, articulate and interesting.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
If you see “Britain’s oldest man” it won’t be hard to put two and two together.
Oops. Bit like Napoleon being on top of a column in Trafalgar Square.
Well, more like a triumphant Napoleon being depicted on one of the panels at the base. The bas relief weapon in the pic is an AK, it's apparently the exploded view etching in the background that's the problem.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
If you see “Britain’s oldest man” it won’t be hard to put two and two together.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
I will tell you if you want
Oh you know then? Yeah that would be nice thx. Better PM me though.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The role of, not just some Muslims, but, very specifically, some taxi drivers, is central to understanding the abuse rings of the last few years. Taxis provide much of the opportunity for these to develop, in that both drugs suppliers and users and those in social care or at special schools are heavy users of taxi services. In fact, problems in the taxi industry around criminal opportunities predates the industry so heavily employing Muslims.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There has been a lot of grumbling today but a significant number of Labour voters in London will back them regardless.
Sure. But his majority wasn't enormous. 320,000.
335,000 have now signed the petition. The fury on social media is intense. And he's getting a record for breaking promises, and doing not much else.
If the Tories can find a decent candidate next time, I reckon he will struggle badly.
Uber is a storm in a teacup. They've been yellow carded and between now and the appeal, they'll do something to address the issues raised. And rightly so.
Sad to hear Mark Senior has died. Committed LibDems are getting fewer on here.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
I will tell you if you want
Charles is JackW confirmed.
But who is Charles?
And if he died how would he be able to let us know...
On Mark Senior: can I add my condolences. A long-time stalwart of the site: always bafflingly well-informed, always worth reading. A highlky partisan Lib Dem - but can the word 'partisan' be applied to someone with such a love of, and adherence to, the dry statistics? I will miss him. I think he is worthy of a thread - perhaps illustrated by the picture of him about to be hit over the head with a chair that he supplied when he won a competition back around 2007?
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The the Uber / London case, but to have a safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
d.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There are apparently 40,000 uber drivers in London but those black cab drivers who are reacting are 'over the moon'.
The Knowleand blacksmiths, and coal miners), is happening to cabbies. So the world turns.
Not sure if it has improved, but I am still sympathetic to the cab drivers. Outside of London minicabs are generally fine, but in London I always use black cabs.
Do you even know how Uber works? I doubt it. If you keep fucking up tour route, you go below 4 stars, and you get sacked.
I can't remember the last time an Uber driver took me totally the wrong way. I can remember when I did the exact same journey by Uber and black cab on the same day (there and back). The black cab was three times as expensive, and the black cab's "contactless machine" mysteriously didn't work (this happens all the time, I wonder why), so I had to give the driver cash, and then a tip.
Only an idiot takes black cabs out of choice, these days. They are useful if you are wearing a top hat which you do not wish to remove, though.
Happy to be an idiot and stick with credible minicab companies and black cabs. I do know how uber works, thanks. I would consider using it in certain circumstances, ie when I am by myself . But overall, I am totally indifferent to the ban on UBER. I use cabs in London maybe 4 times a year. Doesn't affect me. I dont care. From my point of view having unlimited black cabs at the station is great. You can put the buggy and the child straight in to the cab and get to where you are going. I'm not interested in f**king around waiting for some app to work while the kid is screaming and my wife is moaning at me.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
I think Labour will find it hard to go beyond the 55% the won in June, and Uxbridge doesn't have the sort of demographic profile that favours Labour.
The next mayoral election is in 2020. Uber will be operating then or there'll be an alternative if it really doesn't want to play by the rules.
Uber will be in business with their wings clipped. Remember the 40,000 who work for Uber simply replaced 40,000 mini cab drivers It is only the app which makes the difference.
Mini cabs could pool their resources and introduce the cab. The Black Cab drivers euphoria will be short-lived.
With the rise of this casualisation of the workforce, and consequent precarious incomes we do need to rethink the welfare state. Long waits for monthly payments are not going to work. The individuals crisis may well have spun out of control by then.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
Depends if Uber is actually banned (which I severely doubt). If not, the damage will be limited (but there will be damage, still)
If Uber really is abolished, and nothing swiftly replaces it, he will lose 100,000s of votes.
Yep. Comments from those who don't live or work in London are hilarious. The idea that non UBER drivers are all wonderful saints is hilarious. Almost everyone I know has a bad black cab experience - whilst all my mates love Uber. The only time sometime took my uber I was swiftly reimbursed.
One of the reasons was that minicabs using sat navs ended up taking the wrong routes and getting stuck in traffic jams. Nothing worse than being stuck in a cab with a driver who cant speak english obediently following instructions on the sat nav going completely the wrong way, when you are running late for an appointment.
I stopped at Burton services, M6 Northbound today, and was approached by a confused van driver.
He had left Birmingham, following his sat nav, and was wondering how much further it was to Swansea...
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The the Uber / London case, but to have a safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
d.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There are apparently 40,000 uber drivers in London but those black cab drivers who are reacting are 'over the moon'.
The Knowleand blacksmiths, and coal miners), is happening to cabbies. So the world turns.
Not sure if it has improved, but I am still sympathetic to the cab drivers. Outside of London minicabs are generally fine, but in London I always use black cabs.
Do you even knowof choice, these days. They are useful if you are wearing a top hat which you do not wish to remove, though.
Happy to be an idiot and stick with credible minicab companies and black cabs. I do know how uber works, thanks. I would consider using it in certain circumstances, ie when I am by myself . But overall, I am
lol. The reason you have unlimited black cabs at the station is coz they are desperate for the fares. Because of Uber. Pre-Uber, cabbies would pick and choose their fares. "Nah, mate, I don't go sahf of the river"
As for the other guff, you clearly don't live in London and you've no idea how Uber transforms things so your opinion is worthless.
Agreed. Uber has transformed the taxi experience. Previously you had to call and talk to someone who barely spoke English, and just hope and pray they had understood where you were. You had no idea when the taxi would actually turn up. Then you had to make sure in advance you had enough cash to cover the fare. Uber removes all these annoyances, and is cheaper too.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
This would be the London that Boris won twice.....
On Uber, it needs to be said that string taxi regulation isn't about some vague sense of individual safety. The the Uber / London case, but to have a safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
d.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
There are apparently 40,000 uber drivers in London but those black cab drivers who are reacting are 'over the moon'.
The Knowleand blacksmiths, and coal miners), is happening to cabbies. So the world turns.
Not sure if it has improved, but I am still sympathetic to the cab drivers. Outside of London minicabs are generally fine, but in London I always use black cabs.
Do you even knowof choice, these days. They are useful if you are wearing a top hat which you do not wish to remove, though.
Happy to be an idiot and stick with credible minicab companies and black cabs. I do know how uber works, thanks. I would consider using it in certain circumstances, ie when I am by myself . But overall, I am totally indifferent to the ban on UBER. I use cabs in London maybe 4 times a year. Doesn't affect me. I dont care. From my point of view having unlimited black cabs at the station is great. You can put the buggy and the child straight in to the cab and get to where you are going. I'm not interested in f**king around waiting for some app to work while the kid is screaming and my wife is moaning at me.
lol. The reason you have unlimited black cabs at the station is coz they are desperate for the fares. Because of Uber. Pre-Uber, cabbies would pick and choose their fares. "Nah, mate, I don't go sahf of the river"
As for the other guff, you clearly don't live in London and you've no idea how Uber transforms things so your opinion is worthless.
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
Fuck's Sake so if a Lidl employee is done for shoplifting we should close down Lidl?
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
This would be the London that Boris won twice.....
That was before the referendum. Boris is loathed in London now.
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
Fuck's Sake so if a Lidl employee is done for shoplifting we should close down Lidl?
No, but if there was one sexual assault allegation per week against Lidl employees *while they were at work*, one might expect the company to have its collar felt by its regulator over who exactly it was employing.
I recall one guy who ranted about blacks, Muslims, Jews, Scots, Belgians, and then actually ran out of people to hate, went all quiet for a moment, and then sparked up again and said "But you know who I REALLY hate? PEOPLE WHO TAKE TRAINS".
The next mayoral election is in 2020. Uber will be operating then or there'll be an alternative if it really doesn't want to play by the rules.
Uber will be in business with their wings clipped. Remember the 40,000 who work for Uber simply replaced 40,000 mini cab drivers It is only the app which makes the difference.
Mini cabs could pool their resources and introduce the cab. The Black Cab drivers euphoria will be short-lived.
Of course. There'll be Uber and/or something else. I was in San Francisco this week and used Uber, Lyft and regular cabs. The technology is out there and will be used. The issue is Uber not following the rules. The courts will either keep them operating or force them to comply.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
Depends if Uber is actually banned (which I severely doubt). If not, the damage will be limited (but there will be damage, still)
If Uber really is abolished, and nothing swiftly replaces it, he will lose 100,000s of votes.
Yep. Comments from those who don't live or work in London are hilarious. The idea that non UBER drivers are all wonderful saints is hilarious. Almost everyone I know has a bad black cab experience - whilst all my mates love Uber. The only time sometime took my uber I was swiftly reimbursed.
I've never had a racist rant from an UBER driver. They are incredibly polite, they also get out of the car and load your luggage, they call you Sir or Madam. Because they know they need your good opinion on the app.
I have a soft spot for London black cab drivers, and I feel very sorry for them facing the digital revolution (already faced by journalists) but Jesus I've had some shite experiences in London's famous cabs.
I recall one guy who ranted about blacks, Muslims, Jews, Scots, Belgians, and then actually ran out of people to hate, went all quiet for a moment, and then sparked up again and said "But you know who I REALLY hate? PEOPLE WHO TAKE TRAINS".
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
This would be the London that Boris won twice.....
That was before the referendum. Boris is loathed in London now.
Boris is still popular in the Tory heartlands that got him elected - Bromley, Havering and his new home Hillingdon. But given the election his once safe seat is now close to becoming a marginal. Given demographics it may well go Labour soon. Boris may well start seeking a safer seat - as might many other London Tory MPs.
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
This will really hit Khan's base.
This will all blow over. Khan is and will remain extremely popular. This is London we are talking about - Tories haven't got a chance in hell.
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
Depends if Uber is actually banned (which I severely doubt). If not, the damage will be limited (but there will be damage, still)
If Uber really is abolished, and nothing swiftly replaces it, he will lose 100,000s of votes.
Yep. Comments from those who don't live or work in London are hilarious. The idea that non UBER drivers are all wonderful saints is hilarious. Almost everyone I know has a bad black cab experience - whilst all my mates love Uber. The only time sometime took my uber I was swiftly reimbursed.
I've never had a racist rant from an UBER driver. They are incredibly polite, they also get out of the car and load your luggage, they call you Sir or Madam. Because they know they need your good opinion on the app.
I have a soft spot for London black cab drivers, and I feel very sorry for them facing the digital revolution (already faced by journalists) but Jesus I've had some shite experiences in London's famous cabs.
I recall one guy who ranted about blacks, Muslims, Jews, Scots, Belgians, and then actually ran out of people to hate, went all quiet for a moment, and then sparked up again and said "But you know who I REALLY hate? PEOPLE WHO TAKE TRAINS".
UBER and black cab drivers are from very different demographics in my experience.
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
Fuck's Sake so if a Lidl employee is done for shoplifting we should close down Lidl?
No, but if there was one sexual assault allegation per week against Lidl employees *while they were at work*, one might expect the company to have its collar felt by its regulator over who exactly it was employing.
We do not know whether that is more or less than the overall rate for other drivers. On Uber there is at least tracking and rating.
On the other hand there is the same concern that I have over using Amazon. Amazon is cheap and efficient, with good service, but has driven many towns to be bookshp free zones. My author cousin complains about the low royalty he gets on sales, and while Ashby has a lot of jobs in the giant East Midlands hub, these are minimal wage while subsidised by in work benefits, and the company pays little tax.
Such casualisation of the workforce is part of the generational injustice in the country. It is a dangerous trend. People who feel that they have little to lose can make for a very volatile politics.
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
Fuck's Sake so if a Lidl employee is done for shoplifting we should close down Lidl?
No, but if there was one sexual assault allegation per week against Lidl employees *while they were at work*, one might expect the company to have its collar felt by its regulator over who exactly it was employing.
You do realise every single UBER car is logged online, the driver is photographed and shown to you before you get in, every trip is GPS mapped and GPS traced, and the culpable driver can therefore be immediately arrested? Unlike any other cab service?
Given that UBER has 40,000 London drivers, it is clearly likely they will have sexual predators in their midst. It is also clear that if you want to drive a cab and rape women, UBER is probably your worst employer.
Yes, I know how their system works.
From that Mail article, one driver was jailed for 12 years for two sexual assaults and a rape, that occurred on separate occasions.
There have been documented cases elsewhere where this company have refused to hand over information on drivers accused of criminal offences, without a pile of legal paperwork that was challenged and appealed at every stage with expensive lawyers.
Their CEO was forced to resign only a couple of months ago, after a culture of bullying and harassment was exposed at their head office.
The concept of what they do is undoubtedly good, but this particular company is seriously evil. They think that the rules that apply to everyone else should not apply to them. I hope that similar non-evil companies like Lyft are looking at starting up in London as a result of this decision.
RIP Indeed. I had some sparrings with him but he was a knowledgeable poster and a committed Liberal and I send my condolences to his family
There was another prominent LibDem, SES I think he was called, who died in 2009.
On the whole we've done pretty well healthwise.
True but inevitably none of us are immortal (except perhaps JackW), a reminder that however heated the arguments on here to keep things in perspective
I hate to sound morbid, but do we know that JackW is OK? He hasn't visited the site in months and I know he's had health problems.
Sad news about Mark Senior. Slightly ironic to reflect his last ever post was celebrating your defeat in the Hemnall council by-election, where he described you as 'our very own HYUFD'!
JackW's passing would be reported in the national press
Who would know that "Deceased Person" = Jack W though?
I will tell you if you want
Oh you know then? Yeah that would be nice thx. Better PM me though.
Charles is JackW confirmed.
Suspect it would be tricky to inform Gin of my own death
I just spoke with my Corbyn-voting wife (age 22) who really likes Khan (he was her MP in Tooting as a child); she also uses Uber all the time: for her it is a total Godsend.
Right now she is volunteering on a farm in Sussex so she hadn't heard the news. She is bewildered - and horrified.
Comments
It didn’t fit him.
He was polished - he spread turd on himself.
One of the reasons was that minicabs using sat navs ended up taking the wrong routes and getting stuck in traffic jams. Nothing worse than being stuck in a cab with a driver who cant speak english obediently following instructions on the sat nav going completely the wrong way, when you are running late for an appointment.
Not sure if it has improved, but I am still sympathetic to the cab drivers. Outside of London minicabs are generally fine, but in London I always use black cabs.
You're fired.
Come to think of it, TfL should commission the app. Mayor Sadiq can have that idea for free.
An expert numismatist, as well.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41367394#
Foul up on Moscow's AK47 monument.
But Uber does provide the service of keeping them at an honest price. Knowing Uber's business model and economies of scale, worth going with the local operator (They're pretty much the same price point) since if Uber ever squeezes City out then there is no chance of a CityTaxi comeback whereas Uber isn't going anywhere medium term.
https://twitter.com/HurstLlama/status/910900451624800261
There are probably a lot of people like me, who are about a generation behind the times, technologically (in the same way that in several Western societies, peak horse was in the 1950's).
I think a lot of people will be furious, and a lot of people will be delighted by this decision. I don't know whether it harms or benefits Khan.
I'd agree with you that it probably annoys the sorts of people who vote Labour, but it will please the sort of people who vote Conservative.
He had left Birmingham, following his sat nav, and was wondering how much further it was to Swansea...
Sorry to hear about Mark Senior, he carried a torch in dark times.
* I was interested to read about their lack of profits, is there an equivalent to anti-dumping legislation for service industries? If not then perhaps this is a way to rein in some of the abusive international service companies.
Poor taxi regulation and standards enforcement, for instance when council subcommittees rather than independent bodies look at disciplinary matters, have been strongly I mplicated in areas where abuse rings have occurred.
I don't know the specifics of the Uber / London case, but to have a body like TfL ensuring strong taxi regulation, especially on safeguarding, should be seen as an important thing.
The connection between taxis, takeaways, drugs and grooming is an interesting one. Taxis and takeaways are great ways of laundering cash from prostitution and drugs, and the two forms of trafficking are often intimately joined.
By using electronic payment, Uber may well not be involved.
Exactly right.
320,000 signatories to that petition to keep Uber, and it's only been going six hours.
Sadiq Khan may have just blown up his political career.
Plenty of black cabbies here in Epping though who will not be complaining
How many black cab drivers are there? 20,000?
He's potentially lost half a million votes. Maybe a million. I don't think non-Londoners understand how transformative - and positive - Uber has been in the capital: especially for Khan's demographic.
Women, minorities, autistic people, people in Zone 3 and 4, young people, students - they're the ones who adored Uber, they're the ones Khan has just kicked in the face.
I find black cabs excellent. I've never used Uber, but then, I read books rather than use a kindle.
There are probably a lot of people like me, who are about a generation behind the times, technologically (in the same way that in several Western societies, peak horse was in the 1950's).
I think a lot of people will be furious, and a lot of people will be delighted by this decision. I don't know whether it harms or benefits Khan.
I'd agree with you that it probably annoys the sorts of people who vote Labour, but it will please the sort of people who vote Conservative.
I have never used Uber in York, my daughter uses them all the time in Leeds .As in London the official cabbies in York are protesting all the time against Uber.I am sure there will be compromise in London when the safety issues are addressed .
Thanks for confirming Mike.
Sad news indeed. If you can get in touch with Mark's family please pass on my condolences.
RIP
Sad to hear Mark Senior has died. Committed LibDems are getting fewer on here.
And if he died how would he be able to let us know...
I'm very confused.
RIP Mark.
Pause.
Tim Vine eat your heart out...
In fact, look forward to the next general election where most of the remaining Tory MPs in London have a real battle to keep their seat. The biggest Tory tw*t of all, the moron Boris Johnson will surely be ejected.
Mini cabs could pool their resources and introduce the cab. The Black Cab drivers euphoria will be short-lived.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/sep/21/why-we-need-the-welfare-state-more-than-ever
With the rise of this casualisation of the workforce, and consequent precarious incomes we do need to rethink the welfare state. Long waits for monthly payments are not going to work. The individuals crisis may well have spun out of control by then.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4911364/London-safer-without-Uber-writes-Katie-Hopkins.html
In August, a man charged at police officers with a four-foot sword outside of Buckingham Palace yelling Allah Akbar.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 26 was an Uber driver, one of the 40,000 working for the company in the capital.
Mr Chowdhury is not the only Uber driver to be accused of a violent crime.
Figures, obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, suggest the number of sex attacks involving Uber drivers in London could now be running at one a week, having increased by 50 per cent in a year.
Between February 2015 and February 2016, there were 32 sexual assault claims made against Uber drivers in London. In the 12 months to February 2017, that figure rose to 48 alleged offences.
On the other hand there is the same concern that I have over using Amazon. Amazon is cheap and efficient, with good service, but has driven many towns to be bookshp free zones. My author cousin complains about the low royalty he gets on sales, and while Ashby has a lot of jobs in the giant East Midlands hub, these are minimal wage while subsidised by in work benefits, and the company pays little tax.
Such casualisation of the workforce is part of the generational injustice in the country. It is a dangerous trend. People who feel that they have little to lose can make for a very volatile politics.
From that Mail article, one driver was jailed for 12 years for two sexual assaults and a rape, that occurred on separate occasions.
There have been documented cases elsewhere where this company have refused to hand over information on drivers accused of criminal offences, without a pile of legal paperwork that was challenged and appealed at every stage with expensive lawyers.
Their CEO was forced to resign only a couple of months ago, after a culture of bullying and harassment was exposed at their head office.
The concept of what they do is undoubtedly good, but this particular company is seriously evil. They think that the rules that apply to everyone else should not apply to them. I hope that similar non-evil companies like Lyft are looking at starting up in London as a result of this decision.
RIP.