Menu
Tue, 19 March 2024

Newsletter sign-up

Subscribe now
The House Live All
Data: driving the UK’s growth and productivity Partner content
Economy
Economy
Economy
By Lord Lamont of Lerwick
Economy
Creating prosperity and growth: the importance of innovation in the UK economy Partner content
By Mastercard
Economy
Press releases

GMB demands urgent inquiry into Conservatives' relationship with Uber

GMB

2 min read Partner content

Investigation needed into David Cameron and George Osborne’s closeness to ride-sharing company.


An urgent inquiry is needed into an allegedly cosy relationship between the Conservatives and Uber bosses, says GMB.

Revelations today suggest David Cameron and George Osborne’s contact with former senior executives at Uber may have been too close for comfort.

If true, they prove the government’s positive words about self-employed and working people are nothing more than hot air.

Good local knowledgeable taxi drivers are being forced out of business as their towns and cities are flooded by out of town drivers on ‘dodgy licenses’ and tied to bogus self-employment contracts.

Meanwhile great places like Brighton, Bath, Southend, Leeds, Manchester, Reading, Liverpool and many others are descending into "Wild West" frontiers - with touting and illegal ply for hire activities now common place thanks to legislation forced through by the Cameron government in 2015.

Mick Rix GMB National Officer for Taxi & Professional Drivers, said:

"Today’s revelations, if true, blow the lid off rumours that have been circulating privately for some time; that companies like Uber bought the heart of UK Tory government and had favourable legislation passed.

“The Deregulation Act 2015 allowed Uber and other operators to flood the taxi market and create a ‘Wild West’ situation in the streets of our towns and cities throughout the UK.

“The government has virtually dragged the good name of the taxi trade into the gutter.

“Now know why - it was all done on behalf of their cronies at Uber.

“We call on the authorities to launch a full and independent inquiry into this shocking business, where UK government sold themselves to a company, because of personal friendships."

Categories

Economy
Podcast
Engineering a Better World

The Engineering a Better World podcast series from The House magazine and the IET is back for series two! New host Jonn Elledge discusses with parliamentarians and industry experts how technology and engineering can provide policy solutions to our changing world.

NEW SERIES - Listen now