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Uber's London licence renewed for two months | Uber's London licence renewed for two months |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ride-hailing firm Uber has had its right to operate in London extended for two months. | |
The firm lost its licence in 2017 due to public safety concerns, after which a judge granted a 15-month extension which was due to expire on Wednesday. | The firm lost its licence in 2017 due to public safety concerns, after which a judge granted a 15-month extension which was due to expire on Wednesday. |
Transport for London (TfL) said its licence would now be renewed temporarily while it requested additional information from the firm. | Transport for London (TfL) said its licence would now be renewed temporarily while it requested additional information from the firm. |
Uber must also meet new conditions on passenger safety, it said. | Uber must also meet new conditions on passenger safety, it said. |
It means the ride-sharing firm must wait until November to find out if it will be granted another full five-year licence. If it is not, it may have to stop trading in London, its most important European market. | |
Uber has faced push-back from regulators and traditional taxi services in a number of countries after being dogged by controversy for a number of years. | Uber has faced push-back from regulators and traditional taxi services in a number of countries after being dogged by controversy for a number of years. |
In London, TfL rejected Uber's licence renewal request in 2017, due to failings in the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offences and driver background checks. | In London, TfL rejected Uber's licence renewal request in 2017, due to failings in the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offences and driver background checks. |
Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, said on Tuesday that Uber would "continue to work closely with TfL and provide any additional requested information". | Jamie Heywood, Uber's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, said on Tuesday that Uber would "continue to work closely with TfL and provide any additional requested information". |
He added: "Over the past two years, we've launched a range of new safety features in the app, introduced better protections for drivers and our clean air plan is helping to tackle air pollution." | He added: "Over the past two years, we've launched a range of new safety features in the app, introduced better protections for drivers and our clean air plan is helping to tackle air pollution." |
'Kicking the can down the road' | 'Kicking the can down the road' |
About 45,000 drivers work for Uber in London, and if its request for a five-year licence is rejected all of them risk losing their jobs. | |
The GMB union, which represents Uber drivers, said the firm has had "more chances than a game of monopoly". | |
Regional officer Steve Garelick said: "A two month licence extension is no good for anyone - it leaves uncertainty for drivers and passengers, meanwhile Uber still operates an unsafe model on the streets of London. | Regional officer Steve Garelick said: "A two month licence extension is no good for anyone - it leaves uncertainty for drivers and passengers, meanwhile Uber still operates an unsafe model on the streets of London. |
"Transport for London has simply kicked the can down the road and shown no regard for drivers or public safety." | "Transport for London has simply kicked the can down the road and shown no regard for drivers or public safety." |
Last year, a judge granted Uber a probationary 15-month licence to operate in London after the firm said it had made changes to its business model. | |
But TfL said the new two-month licence would come with "new conditions to ensure passenger safety", covering things like insurance and driver document checks. | |
It added: "Uber London Limited has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application." | It added: "Uber London Limited has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application." |