Uber in legal bid to block new London taxi rules

Uber has launched a legal challenge against new rules in London which could require thousands of its drivers to take an English-language test, the company said on Tuesday.

“This legal action is very much a last resort,” Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber London said in a statement.

“We’re particularly disappointed that, after a lengthy consultation process with Transport for London, the goalposts have moved at the last minute and new rules are now being introduced that will be bad for both drivers and tech companies like Uber.”

The company’s application for judicial review in London focuses on four of the new TfL rules.

While Uber supported an English- speaking and -listening test, it has argued that making drivers provide a certificate showing they have an intermediate level of writing and reading is unnecessary and costly.

London taxis blocked the roads in central London in February as drivers were concerned with unfair competition from services such as Uber. (File photo: AP)

Uber has more than 30,000 drivers in London and estimates thousands would be affected by the change.

Under the new rules private hire companies will be required to run an operating centre within London, which their passengers are able to call during a ride.

“We responded to Uber’s letter and will be robustly defending the legal proceedings brought by them in relation to the changes to private hire regulations,” a TfL spokesman said in a statement.