The Ltda Team Files Court Papers P2

Transcript

tz P4 LTDA’s media bli LTDA The official publication of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association | www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA No.392 | 2 May 2017 LTDA NICKS UBER DRIVER! THE LTDA TEAM FILES COURT PAPERS P2 More readers than the rest put together. Ask any driver! LTDA 2 TAXI|2 May 2017 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA NEWS Uber driver nicked by LTDA sting! Court AY OR ID EY ON M Best Exchange Rates!!! IN E SS RNATI TE BAN K N A US TR CB IN 0% COMMISSION 0% SION MIS OM NAL O HO L Uber’s operator’s licence this month. The letter states that “the Uber model requires that Uber drivers unlawfully ply for hire.” And that, “insofar as Uber purports to comply with PHV legislation, its operation is a sham. It masquerades as an operator under the cloak of an operator’s licence, which it uses as a shield for unlicensed and unlawful activities of its drivers.” The full letter can we downloaded from our website on http www.ltda.co.uk/ media-centre/campaigns SFERS Holiday Money & Inter national Bank Tr ansfer s Special Rat e s Best Exchange Rates IN LONDON Instant Availa bility of Over 120 Cur r encies TA X I TAXI 0% Commission Bank to Bank Money Tr ansfer s over £10,000 no char ge and below £9.90 We offer better rates than Banks, Post Office, M&S, Thomas Cook, Travelex & other major competitors. HE ELSE € $ th b an co ran at un ch te rs PRODU CE RE W TH AT BE W ! ¥£ EM UR TAXI ID YO T BETTER GE R EW $€ £¥ OU FIND B FY S ILL & TER RATE ET ES AT I An Uber driver has been charged with illegally plying for hire as a direct result of an LTDA private prosecution. It is expected the driver will appear before magistrates in Bromley shortly, in a case that could have serious repercussions for the US company’s operating model. ,IPDJLVWUDWHVÀQGWKDWWKHGULYHULVJXLOW\ it would prove once and for all that Uber drivers are operating unlawfully by plying for hire via the app. The summons is one of a number of key challenges being instigated by the LTDA in WKHÀJKWDJDLQVW8EHU The association has warned Transport for London that it would be unlawful to re-licence Uber this month. $VSDUWRIRXUFDVHDJDLQVWWKHÀUPRXU snoops tracked and videotaped the suspect and believe they caught him red-handed DVKHRͿHUHGKLVVHUYLFHVLOOHJDOO\LQ1RUWK Greenwich. LTDA legal eagle, John Luckhurst, and *HQHUDO6HFUHWDU\6WHYH0F1DPDUDUHFHQWO\ attended Bromley Magistrates’ Court to handover key evidence gathered by its private investigators. In a detailed, point by point, 17-page letter to TfL, the LTDA has also set out why it should refuse to renew F OR T HE BE S T RAT E S VISIT OUR WEBSITE TR eht aoi l ,mC oar pso r a E xchange Global Ltd te & Commercial Foreign Money Dealers W O R L D ’ S Branches: F O R E I G N E XC H A N G E 020 7240 1214 Strand Embankment Richmond Hammersmith London Bridge Cannon Street Liverpool Steet L o n d o n Wa l l Canary Wharf Victoria Street High St Kensington Victoria Place - Inside Victoria Station Moorgate (opening soon) 2 May 2017 | TAXI More readers than the rest put together! 3 Top Trade Story “YES, IT IS ALL THE LTDA!” STEVE MCNAMARA, LTDA General Secretary “The LTDA is making the news more than being quoted oted in it! it!” here are three major reports LQWKLVHGLWLRQZKLFKUHÁHFW current major trade concerns: the expose of the Cameron/Osborne/ 8EHUFRQQHFWLRQWKHOHJDOFKDOOHQJH to TfL over its relicensing of Uber and the criminal prosecutions of Uber drivers for illegally plying for hire (e-hailing). The common denominator with all of them is the LTDA! ,WLVWKH/7'$DQGLQSDUWLFXODU my critical meeting at Downing 6WUHHWWKDWSURYLGHGWKHHYLGHQFHIRU the Daily Mail’s ongoing revelations concerning the apparent pressure being brought to bear by senior politicians who support Uber. It is the LTDA that has engaged Queens Counsel and a team of senior lawyers to challenge TfL over Uber’s relicensing and it is the LTDA that has ÀQDOO\ODXQFKHGDVHULHVRISULYDWH prosecutions for plying for hire via DQDSS,VD\ÀQDOO\EHFDXVHZHKDG to drag the DVLA through the High Court to compel it to release full details of the Uber driver suspects. This prolonged refusal by the DVLA ZDVLQLWVHOIH[WUHPHO\VXVSHFWDQG IROORZLQJRXU+LJK&RXUWVXFFHVV we have launched a series of Freedom of Information requests to unravel who put unrelenting pressure on the authorities in an attempt to thwart our prosecutions. The Cameron/Osborne/Uber UHYHODWLRQVFRQWLQXHHYHQWKH announcement of snap general election hasn’t dampened interest in the ongoing scandal. Both the Daily Mail and The Guardian are running with fresh revelations around the 'HSDUWPHQWIRU%XVLQHVV,QQRYDWLRQ T Sajid Javid MP, former minister in the Cameron administration ad dmiiniist istr trat ati tio ion ion DQG6NLOOV%,6 VHHNLQJWRLQÁXHQFH the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) response to the 3+9UHJVUHYLHZZKLFKLWUHIHUUHGWR as “the consultation on Uber.” ,Q0DUFKWKH&0$VXEPLWWHG DSDUWLFXODUO\KHDY\KDQGHG extremely pro-Uber response to TfL’s 3ULYDWH+LUH9HKLFOH5HJXODWLRQV condemning TfL’s proposals on the basis that they would undermine FRPSHWLWLRQLQWKHPDUNHW$EVXUGO\ this was exactly what we had been saying to the CMA in a letter of complaint (but the other way around) about Uber’s predatory pricing and IDLOXUHWRDELGHE\UHJXODWLRQZKLFK was giving it an unfair advantage and allowing it to stamp out the competition. The CMA repeatedly refused to HQJDJHRQWKLVDQGZKHQ,ÀQDOO\PHW LWVUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVEDFNLQ1RYHPEHU 2015 they were extremely cagey. All they wanted to discuss was the PHV UHJVUHYLHZZKLFKDWWKHWLPHPDGH QRVHQVHKRZHYHUWKHSORWWKLFNHQV« It is absurd for one regulator to MORTGAGE ADVICE 20 years in the London Taxi trade 01371 504030 Office M, Dutch Barn, Old Park Farm, Ford End, Chelmsford CM3 1LN Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. For mortgages we are paid commission, or a fee (typically £295), usually a combination of both. publicly comment on the actions RIDQRWKHULQVXFKDZD\DQGZH were intrigued to understand what was going behind the scenes and ZKDWKDGWULJJHUHGLW6RWKH/7'$ submitted a series of FOIs to the CMA and various government departments asking for details of FRPPXQLFDWLRQVEHWZHHQ7I/ &LW\+DOORWKHU*RYHUQPHQW GHSDUWPHQWVVHQLRUFLYLOVHUYDQWV and any public bodies in relation to the review. They responded by stating that there “no such correspondence existed.” 5HVSRQGLQJWRDVLPLODUUHTXHVW the CMA provided numerous communications with the 'HSDUWPHQWIRU%XVLQHVV,QQRYDWLRQ and Skills and the Department for 7UDQVSRUWVKRZLQJWKDWRQFHDJDLQ the Government tried to cover up this XQGXHLQÁXHQFH BIS has made the frankly shoddy excuse that the civil servants involved in the communications were not senior enough to fall within the UHPLWRIWKHUHTXHVWZKLFKLVZK\ WKH\ZHUHQRWGLVFORVHGZKLFKLVD shameless cop out. ,QWHUHVWLQJO\WKRXJKWKH'DLO\ Mail noted that the then Chief ([HFXWLYHRIWKH&0$QRZKHDGVXS 6DMLG-DYLG·VQHZGHSDUWPHQW This story has led to renewed calls for a parliamentary inquiry and the ,QIRUPDWLRQ&RPPLVVLRQHUZKRKDV already launched an inquiry into 1XPEHU·VEHKDYLRXULVQRZDOVR looking into this after we sent them a letter. We will be supplying some supporting evidence and more details and hope this will see a further formal inquiry launched into BIS’ actions. 6XUHO\ZLWKWKHHYLGHQFH PRXQWLQJWKH30ZLOOKDYHWRWDNH action? Until then we will continue our campaign and our next move will be a demo outside the Standard on *HRUJH2VERUQH·VÀUVWGD\DV(GLWRU pointing out that he clearly doesn’t have London’s interest at heart in light of recent revelations. The Serious Fraud Office As well as concentrating on using all our political and press contacts and launching a social media campaign (See page 4) to support calls for a parliamentary enquiry I have made a formal criminal complaint on behalf of the LTDA WRWKH6HULRXV)UDXG2ͿFH6)2  for a criminal investigation into the behaviour of the former Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business and Industry Secretary in their support for and dealings with Rachel Whetstone and Uber whilst LQDSXEOLFRͿFH CASH SAME DAY 1069 % REPRESENTATIVE APR SUBJECT TO STATUS TAXI LOANS LTD IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY NO 571041 LICENSED TAXI DRIVERS QUOTATION UPON REQUEST WARNING: LATE REPAYMENT CAN CAUSE YOU SERIOUS MONEY PROBLEMS. FOR HELP, GO TO MONEYADVICESERVICE.ORG.UK CALL 020 7487 5755 TAXI LOANS LTD - 119 LEMAN STREET, LONDON E1 8EY 4 TAXI|2 May 2017 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA NEWS LTDA launches social media blitz NEWS IN BRIEF Campaigns The LTDA has mounted an intense social media campaign in support of our call for an urgent inquiry into the scandal surrounding Uber and the Government. It follows the trade protest over the links between Downing Street under David Cameron and the US app company. The campaign highlights the fact that Uber pays virtually no tax in %ULWDLQXQOLNH/RQGRQWD[LGULYHUV and other British businesses. It also serves to remind people that cabbies are the most thoroughly tested and checked taxi drivers in ZRUOGDVRSSRVHGWRWKHWUDGH·VVDW nav reliant competitors which cause chaos across the city. Our crusade has attracted thousands of Twitter followers and is EHLQJEDFNHGE\VFRUHVRI03VZKR recognise the stench of corruption has tainted everyone connected with it. Downing Street’s attempts to squash proposals designed to properly regulate the minicab industry to improve the safety of Witness Appeal An accident occurred at the junction of Southwark Bridge Road/Southwark Street on 'HFHPEHUDWDURXQG SPEHWZHHQDUHG7;DQG a dark green VW saloon. Any witnesses are urged to contact 0780 1573889 or the editor on  Bank Junction Trial Date Set London is a scandal and only a full inquiry will be able to get to the bottom of what really went on. LTDA plus -RLQRXUFDPSDLJQRQ7ZLWWHUDQG forward the images you see to your IULHQGVIDPLO\DQGORFDOSROLWLFLDQV The ban on taxis entering Bank junction will get underway on 0RQGD\0D\ Only buses and pedestrians will be allowed to access the junction between 7am and 7pm from that date. The LTDA will continue to gather evidence about the impact RQWUD΀FWRSXWWRWKH&LW\RI London when the scheme comes up for review later in the year. LTDA Plus gives you access to a range of benefits and discounts designed to support members both personally and professionally. This month’s highlights include: 75% Discount on Open Fairways Golf Card Discounted Family Days Out :LWKYHQXHVWRFKRRVHIURPWKHUH·VSOHQW\RIIXQWREH had at a Merlin Entertainments attraction this year. $WWUDFWLRQVLQFOXGH$OWRQ7RZHUV5HVRUW/(*2/$1'Š :LQGVRU5HVRUW&KHVVLQJWRQ:RUOGRI$GYHQWXUHV5HVRUW 7+253(3$5.5HVRUW0DGDPH7XVVDXGV/RQGRQ:DUZLFN&DVWOH /(*2/$1'Š'LVFRYHU\&HQWUH0DQFKHVWHUWKH'XQJHRQV 6($/,)(%ODFNSRRODWWUDFWLRQVDQGPDQ\PRUH  Call 0871 222 4001** and quote REWARDS LTDA members are able to enjoy an 18 month subscription to Open Fairways for only £22.50! The Open Fairways card gives members and up to 7 guests huge green fee savings at over 1000 JROIFRXUVHVLQWKH8.DQG,UHODQG )UDQFH6SDLQDQG3RUWXJDO  Call 02890 393 990 quoting LTDA2014 FREE 6-month Hi-Life Platinum card worth £42.50 Discover utter foodie heaven and enjoy 2 for 1 dining at thousands RIJUHDWUHVWDXUDQWVQDWLRQZLGHLQFOXGLQJ3UH]]R&KLPLFKDQJD /RFK)\QH6HDIRRGDQG*ULOODQG0DOPDLVRQ  Claim your free card at LTDA Plus To view all of the benefits available through LTDA Plus, log-on via www.ltda.co.uk/member-discounts/ltda-plus 7HUPVDQGFRQGLWLRQVDSSO\WRDOOEHQHÀWV6HHZHEVLWHIRUGHWDLOV2ͿHUVVXEMHFWWRFKDQJHZLWKRXWQRWLFH