Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has reignited the debate on taxi licensing laws in England, describing the current system as “broken” after revealing that nearly half of all taxi licences in the region come from outside the local area.
In a tweet posted earlier today, Burnham highlighted data showing that out-of-area licences far exceed those issued by any single Greater Manchester borough in 2024. A graph included in the post revealed that while boroughs like Oldham and Manchester have issued thousands of private hire licences, the number issued to drivers from outside the region dwarfs them all—surpassing 11,000.
“When nearly half of all taxi licences in GM come from outside our area, you know the system of taxi licensing in England is broken,” Burnham stated.
He confirmed that later today, proposals would be laid out for major reform to bring local control back to the system, echoing the approach taken with Greater Manchester’s bus network.
Currently, the legal loophole known as “cross-border hiring” allows private hire drivers licensed in one authority to operate freely in others. Critics argue that this undermines local standards, reduces accountability, and creates an uneven playing field for operators who comply with stricter local licensing rules.
Burnham’s message, accompanied by the slogan “Backing our taxis – Local. Licensed. Trusted.”, underlines a push for reform that has been gaining momentum within the trade. Drivers and operators across Greater Manchester have long complained that they are being undercut by drivers licensed in areas with looser regulations.
The push for reform will likely be welcomed by many within the private hire and taxi industry, particularly those who’ve argued that licensing should be more locally focused to ensure consistent safety, quality, and accountability.
As the proposals are unveiled, all eyes will be on Westminster to see if the government is willing to back greater devolution of licensing powers and finally close the cross-border loophole once and for all.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, story, or anything you’d like to say, head over to DriverMatty.com — I’d love to hear from you! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
