Taxi Driver Online

Drivers want survey to back up claim of too many cabs

Basildon cabbies have vowed to only back Labour in the forthcoming local election.

The Basildon Hackney Carriage Association, which represents cabbies across the district, has agreed to throw its weight behind the party because of their increasingly bitter trade dispute with the Tory-controlled administration at Basildon Council.

The drivers have pledged to campaign for Labour and help vote Lynda Gordon’s group into power at the election on May 6.

They are furious with the Conservatives’ refusal to carry out a survey which the cabbies say will show the market is saturated with cabs.

Association spokesman Ralph Morgan, 66, said the controversial delimitation process, introduced in 2005, has seen the number of taxis on Basildon’s roads double to 240 in the past five years.

He says that has led to poor trade and extreme financial hardship for drivers, including some who have had their homes repossessed. Mr Morgan claimed it has prompted all 70 of the association’s members to back Labour councillors who have given assurances they will carry out the survey if elected.

He said: “The council has not given us any good reason why it will not carry out a survey, which would be funded by our trade.

“This is an issue which is having a devastating effect on drivers and their families and is why we have made the decision to do all we can to remove this administration.”

The taxi drivers have been warned, by the Unite union, they could lose their licenses if they put up election posters for Labour or any other political party in their cabs.

This is because election rules bar vehicles licensed by the council from being used for political purposes.

Mr Morgan said this will not stop the cabbies campaigning away from their taxis.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said he felt the move was motivated by the taxi drivers’ affiliation with trade unions which support Labour.

He said a quarter of the Labour Party’s income now comes from Unite, and added: “I think that is the real agenda behind this move.”

source: http://www.basildonrecorder.co.uk/news/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Let's hope they don't live to regret that.

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IDFIMH

I see they have very little or no choice anyway.....

It's the same catch 22 scenario here in Winchester.....
Believe it or not the LO's here are actually sympathetic to our situation, but are completely powerless to help us even though licensing have advised the Tory council here that we are well over saturated. It's only been through their efforts of strict quality control that has brought it down to a trickle.... Those idiotic enough to chance it are now finding it worse than being on the dole and income support.....

I tend to agree

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think taxi drivers are getting desperate and willing to do anything that can help them make a living.
Even if voting for the wrong party is there only option

Not so much the wrong party, but more a case of becoming involved in politics.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I will have to consult with my spin doctor before i give a reply

The drivers are taking a punt, and they might win.

However if they don't then there will be repercussions, even if the lads don't directly see them.

What's that they said about the Generals and the troops in the first World War?

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IDFIMH

I don't know . . . . I'm not old enough to know!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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