Uber Has Lost License To Operate In London

The online taxi-hailing app, Uber, has lost its license to operate in London in what is set to be the largest blow to the company that has spread its wings globally.

According to Transport for London, Uber made more than 14,000 trips using uninsured drivers, against the requirements of the law.

The company had been given two months “probationary extension” in September and told to address issues including drivers, insurance and safety.

JUST IN: London’s transport regulator says it will not grant Uber a new licence, says it is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence pic.twitter.com/7VjC9jPQQi

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 25, 2019

“Despite addressing some of these issues, Transport for London does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time,” said TfL.

Uber has vowed to appeal the decision to suspend the renewal of its license. This is likely to see it operate within the next 21 days within which official proceedings will be going on.

In 2017, Transport for London refused to renew Uber’s license, forcing the company to move to court and managed to convince the judges who granted it another 15 months of operating.

There have been concerns about the safety of Uber in London after it was discovered that unlicensed drivers were using another system to upload their pictures in other licensed drivers’ accounts.

“TfL’s decision not to renew Uber’s license in London is extraordinary and wrong, and we will appeal,” said Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager.

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