Glasgow taxi drivers are facing difficulties in meeting the city's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards, despite government support, according to Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy.

Duncan-Glancy raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament, highlighting the liquidation of Vehicle Repowering Solutions, a key provider of retrofitting services under the government's clean vehicle retrofit accreditation scheme.

This has left drivers with limited options to upgrade their vehicles to comply with the LEZ, which came into effect in June 2023.

"Taxi drivers in Glasgow are keen to play their part in the transition to net zero," Duncan-Glancy stated, "but at present they struggle to access some support to comply with the low-emission zone in the city."

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop acknowledged the issue, stating that £3.4 million has been allocated through the LEZ retrofit fund, enabling over 400 taxis to meet the emission standards.

She assured that alternative retrofit suppliers were offered to drivers impacted by the company's liquidation.

However, Duncan-Glancy insisted on a meeting with the Transport Secretary and taxi industry representatives to address the ongoing challenges.

Hyslop expressed willingness to investigate further and find a suitable resolution.

The discussion also touched upon the cap on taxi and private hire cars in Glasgow.

Conservative MSP Sue Webber raised concerns that further reductions could negatively impact the city's nightlife.

Hyslop emphasised that the cap is a matter for Glasgow City Council to address, given the city's unique situation with a higher proportion of older, non-compliant taxis.

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Leigh Day Lawyers have announced on their website that a judge ruled all Addison Lee drivers should be classified as workers, following a historic case brought by hundreds of drivers who are now entitled to workers' rights and backdated compensation for holiday pay and loss of earnings.

About 700 drivers, represented by lawyers from Leigh Day argued that they are workers, rather than self-employed independent contractors.

In 2017, the Employment Tribunal ruled that three Addison Lee drivers were workers, entitling them to rights such as holiday pay and the national minimum wage.

Addison Lee’s attempt to appeal this ruling was dismissed, after a 2021 Supreme Court ruling in favour of Uber drivers in a similar claim. In February 2024, an out of court settlement was reached with the three drivers.

Addison Lee then tried to argue that the 2017 judgment did not apply to the hundreds of drivers who have since brought similar claims.

Leigh Day brought its arguments to a hearing at the Employment Tribunal in October and November 2024.

The Tribunal has now ruled that:

All Addison Lee drivers are workers for Addison Lee

All passenger drivers, courier drivers and executive drivers are working for Addison Lee during all times they are logged onto Addison Lee’s app or mobile device

Owner drivers are working for Addison Lee from the time they have accepted work to the time the work ends

Claims for holiday pay and national minimum wage can go back more than two years

Lawyers from Leigh Day’s employment team say the holiday pay and national minimum wage compensation will be substantial for many drivers who have a long service working for Addison Lee.

The Tribunal also found that the changes Addison Lee had made since the 2017 judgment “paid lip service only” and so did not make any impact to drivers’ worker status.

Employment Judge EJ Hyams was critical of the conduct of Addison Lee’s witnesses, concluding that Bill Kelly, Operations Director and Patrick Gallagher, a board level director and Chief Operating Officer, acted improperly in falsifying an email that was a key part of the firm’s evidence.

The judge also concluded that the credibility of Kevin Valentine, Addison Lee’s Head of Delivery Services was “dented”.

Leigh Day employment solicitor Liana Wood said: “We are delighted that the Employment Tribunal has found in favour of Addison Lee drivers. This decision is of huge importance to drivers at Addison Lee who have been fighting for many years to be recognised as workers and to be paid properly for the work they do. We now urge Addison Lee to pay their drivers the compensation they are owed.”

Dave Lawrie, Director of NPHTA said: " Before we get the usual suspects claiming that this is about VAT, or applies to ALL private hire operators, let's just clear up any misunderstanding.

"Addison Lee operates in much the same way as Uber - collecting payment for all fares and then paying the driver - this is why they are subject to the same judgment as in the GMB employment case against Uber.

"This ruling has zero impact on the traditional way in which many private hire operators continue to work, where the driver is paid the fare directly from the customer."

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Taxi fares in Basingstoke and Deane are set to increase from next Wednesday, 15 January, following a decision by the Borough Council's Cabinet.

This marks the second fare hike in three years, with the previous increase occurring in 2022.

The Cabinet approved a proposal from the local taxi federation, opting for a percentage-based increase across the board.

The standard flag fare will rise by five percent, from £4 to £4.20. However, the most significant change will be seen for longer journeys, with the cost of a five-mile trip increasing by 16 percent from £12.20 to £14.20.

The taxi trade had initially requested a £1 increase to the flag fare, mirroring the 2022 hike. However, the Cabinet deemed a percentage-based increase more appropriate.

"This fare increase is necessary to help the trade cope with rising living costs, to support the adoption of electrified hackney carriages, and to encourage new entrants into the trade," explained Councillor Laura James, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services and Housing.

"It's crucial to support our taxi drivers to ensure the sustainability of this vital service."

Councillor James also acknowledged the complexity of the current fare structure, which relies on fractions for rate calculations. To address this, the council's Licensing Committee will review the fare table on November 4, 2025, with the aim of simplifying it and improving public understanding.

The new fares will come into effect as soon as taxi meters are updated by the council's Licensing team.

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A Birkenhead private hire driver has issued a stark warning to motorists after a block of frozen snow, dislodged from a passing vehicle, smashed his windscreen on the M53 motorway.

John Humphreys, 38, described the terrifying incident as feeling "like a bomb had gone off in the car." He was driving along the motorway after completing a series of fares when the ice struck the passenger side of his windscreen with immense force.

"The bang was deafening," Humphreys told the Liverpool Echo. "I initially thought someone had thrown a brick from a bridge. But when I pulled over, I realised there was no bridge nearby."

It was only upon seeing other vehicles driving over scattered ice on the carriageway that Humphreys understood the source of the impact.

While initially concerned about the cost of repairs and lost earnings, the gravity of the situation dawned on him after fellow taxi drivers expressed their shock at his narrow escape.

"People were saying how much worse it could have been," Humphreys said. "That's when it really hit me how dangerous it was."

Frustrated by the insurance company's delay in arranging repairs, Humphreys is urging motorists to thoroughly clear their vehicles of snow before driving.

"I wouldn't have thought much of it before, but once the snow freezes, it comes off like bricks," he warned.

While there is no specific law against driving with snow on your roof, the RAC warns that dislodged ice can pose a significant danger to other motorists. This could lead to penalties for "driving without due consideration" or "using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition," potentially resulting in fines and points on your licence.

The motoring organisation emphasises the importance of clearing all windows and using appropriate tools to ensure thorough removal of snow and ice.

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Rossendale Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a local taxi firm after uncovering systematic overcharging of a disabled passenger.

The council’s Licensing and Enforcement Office launched an investigation in response to a complaint about unfair pricing practices.

The enquiry found several instances of excessive overcharging of a wheelchair-bound passenger for short journeys compared to able-bodied passengers using the same service.

The enquiries revealed that Connections Taxis of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall overcharged a wheelchair bound passenger on two seperate occassions in September 2023.

The wheelchair bound passenger was charged £8 for a 0.5 mile journey which should have cost £3.50.  The same vehicle charged an able-bodied passenger £4.50 for a 2.1 mile journey just 30 minutes prior to the overcharged journey.

Further investigations showed that the same wheelchair bound passenger was charged £12 for a 2.7 mile journey. That journey should have cost £8.50. The return journey cost the wheelchair bound passenger another £12.

The investigation confirmed that able-bodied passengers were charged standard fares, exposing clear evidence of discriminatory pricing against disabled customers. As a result, the private hire operator's and the involved driver’s licences were revoked by the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee.

Mohsen Saddique, 31, who served as the taxi firm’s manager and was responsible for setting fare prices, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court in December 2024.

He pleaded guilty to overcharging the disabled passenger. The court ordered Mr. Saddique to pay a total penalty of £636, which includes a victim surcharge of £110.

Lead Member for Environment and Corporate Services, Cllr Adrian Lythgoe said: “Overcharging disabled passengers is not only illegal but entirely unacceptable. The outcome of this investigation sends a clear message to all operators and drivers that discriminatory practices will not be tolerated.

"We thank the complainant for coming forward and would encourage others to report any similar concerns."

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