PROTEST PLIGHT
EDINBURGH PH DRIVERS STAGE ‘GO SLOW’ CONVOY TO HIGHLIGHT ISSUES WITH COUNCIL
Drivers, unified under the group Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United, assembled at 9am on Thursday 28 August at Lochside Crescent in South Gyle. The convoy of over 200 drivers began its journey at 10am, proceeding at a slow pace toward the council offices on East Market Street. The protest aimed to attention to
draw various concerns
being raised by the group: l Access to bus lanes and bus gates: unlike taxis, private hire cars are currently prohibited from using bus lanes and bus gates in Edinburgh. This forces
them to take longer routes, contributing to congestion and increased emissions.
l Relaxation of the window tint policy: drivers are currently required to remove factory-fitted tinted windows
from their
vehicles - a costly and un- necessary expense.
l Enhanced engagement from the council: drivers are seeking better levels of engagement and discourse between the council and the trade, especially in shaping future transport and licensing policies in Edinburgh. We are a vital part of Edinburgh’s
transport network, providing
hundreds of thousands of journeys every week, from school runs to late-night travel,” said a spokesperson for the drivers. “Despite this, we are treated as second-class to the hackney trade and repeatedly ignored on key issues. We want to be treated as part of the solution to Edinburgh’s transport challenges, not as part of the problem. We hope this action will get the council to listen to our concerns.” A copy of the driver’s key demands was delivered to the council upon the convoy’s arrival.
TfL IN COURT OVER PHV LICENSING FAILURES THAT PUT THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK
TfL is facing a legal claim in the High Court for a judicial review into the licence delays that have kept thousands of PHV drivers out of work for months on end. The claim, led by members of the IWGB, marks the start of an unprecedented legal challenge which, if successful, could force TfL to overhaul its licensing system, with wide-reaching implications for the more than 108,000 private hire drivers in London. The application seeks permission for both a judicial review and an injunction for the High Court to order TfL to immediately issue IWGB member, Julius Mugabo, his licence
within two days. Mr
Mugabo has not been able to work since March, when his licence expired, and despite submitting all the required documentation, TfL is
PHTM SEPTEMBER 2025
still yet to issue his renewal. Mr Mugabo has faced mounting financial pressures and health issues - including missed council tax payments, the threat of eviction due to rent arrears, and dangerously high blood pressure requiring medication.
Julius is one of thousands of drivers impacted by TfL’s failure to issue licence renewals, many of whom have
reported severe
consequences, including car repossessions, homelessness, family breakdown, and mental/ physical health impacts. One driver, Robert Dale, died from a heart attack
whilst under
extreme stress after TfL failed to renew his licence. IWGB members, who have already forced TfL to make a series of con- cessions through weekly protests,
are now leading the legal claim to secure systemic change to ensure drivers are never unable to work whilst applications are processed. IWGB President, Alex Marshall, has submitted a statement arguing that Mr Mugabo’s treatment is indicative of wider failures at TfL, and outlining how these issues precede the current crisis, dating back to 2023. Alex Marshall, IWGB President, says: “This is the starting pistol of an unprecedented legal battle against TfL, which won’t end until we have secured accountability, compensation, and meaningful systemic change. “Instead of despairing as TfL took a bulldozer to their lives, IWGB drivers stood up, organised protests, and put so much pressure on TfL that we achieved significant wins.
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