LONDON

Lib-Dems are set to challenge key parts of Boris Johnson’s plan to rein in Uber.

The party will vote on a motion to oppose measures which include banning the minicab-hailing firm from showing the location of available cars in its app and making private-hire customers wait five minutes between booking a car and setting off.

Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib-Dem candidate for mayor, said: “It makes no sense to make a passenger wait to get a cab if they can see the cab waiting for them there.”

The Mayor has said the measures, currently subject to consultation, are needed to ensure private-hire cabs operate legally. Uber has said the plans make “no sense at all”.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/libdems-to-fight-mayor-s-uber-curbs-a3111966.html
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 GREATER MANCHESTER

Two men have been jailed for a brutal attack which left a pensioner battered and bruised.

Francis McBride, 71, suffered severe bruising to his face, eyes and body following the unprovoked attack by two passengers in Oldham last summer.

After picking up two men in his taxi from Rochdale, Mr McBride was repeatedly beaten around the face and head during the early hours assault.

Michael Edhouse, 25, and Daniel Swaincott, 26, were jailed for a total of more than 11 years at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

Edhouse, of Barmouth Court, Oldham, was locked up for six years, while Swaincott, of Lichens Crescent, Oldham, was sentenced to five years and six months.
http://goo.gl/POFbjC
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 KIRKLEES 

 Taxi drivers with criminal and motoring convictions are being cleared to drive by councillors against the advice of officials, it has been claimed.

Fears that Kirklees regulatory panel, made up of elected councillors, is ignoring guidelines have been raised by a councillor who sat on the panel.

Denby Dale Tory, Clr Michael Watson, has revealed that at a recent review of five drivers’ conduct, all but one were given the all clear, contrary to advice by council officers.

It is thought one had a conviction for assault while others had committed motoring offences .

The decisions were made behind closed doors preventing the Examiner from hearing the facts and the reasoning behind the decisions.

The council also does not publish details of its “fit and proper” rulings for taxi drivers for legal reasons.

Councillors selected for the panel are given guidelines on how to judge if an exception should be made.

Wording from the 15-page document advises: “There may be occasions where it is appropriate to depart from the guidelines, for example where the offence is a one-off occasion or there are exceptional mitigating circumstances...”

It goes on: “...a criminal history in itself may not automatically result in refusal and a current conviction for a serious crime need not bar an applicant permanently from becoming licensed.”

Clr Watson said he agreed with councillors overturning one case but a further three out of the five went against recommendations against his wishes.

He said: “If officers are putting people in front of the panel you would conclude they have committed one of the offences.

“In four out of five at the last panel, the committee took a different view that they were not in breach of the conditions.

“Councillors are allowed to give them a reprieve if there are exceptional circumstances. But it just doesn’t stack up that this many are allowed.

“My concern is that the policy is not being followed.”

Kirklees is one of the few local authorities that allows politicians to rule on taxi licensing matters.

Notable other authorities that do include Rossendale and Rotherham - both of which have suffered high profile child sex exploitation scandals.

 http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/councillors-overruling-officials-taxi-drivers-10450188

Kirlees have earlier  Licensed a Killer.

  http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/killer-taxi-huddersfield-drug-dealer-8473895
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LONDON

 Most people flag down taxis to take them to work or get them home safely after an evening out.
But if your route requires passing over a rocky mountain or through a muddy marsh, then this is the vehicle for you. 

A black Land Rover Defender with a taxi hire sign attached to the front of its roof was spotted on Westbourne Park Road in Notting Hill, west London earlier today.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3320880/Want-taxi-warzone-4x4-Land-Rover-Defender-capable-going-battle-seen-displaying-yellow-hire-sign-London.html#ixzz3rjHf8DCx 
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UBER EUROPE

It has not been an easy ride for Uber in Europe. Despite being bolstered by copious amounts of venture capital, the company has faced stiff opposition from government regulators and taxi companies across the continent.

 Last month, Uber’s Amsterdam HQ was raided for the third time in 2015 by Dutch authorities pursuing a criminal investigation into the company’s offshoot, the UberPop ride-sharing service that relies upon non-professional drivers. 

In Belgium UberPop was suspended after the Commercial Court ordered its shutdown and threatened a €10 000 fine for each pickup attempted by the company.

http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/11/is-an-uber-a-taxi/