Glasgow City Council is being urged to revisit its position on women-only taxi services in the wake of a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that could change how such proposals are assessed.
Past Rejection of Women-Only Taxi Service
In 2019, the company Rosy and Pinks applied to operate a taxi service with female drivers exclusively for women and their children, citing safety concerns. The aim was to provide a secure alternative for female passengers uncomfortable with male drivers.
The proposal was rejected by councillors at the time. Licensing convener Alex Wilson argued the service would be discriminatory, saying: “If it was the other way round, we would be looking at discrimination against females… I don’t think we should discriminate at all.” Conservative Councillor Robert Connelly also described it as “essentially sexism towards males”.
Legal Shift After Supreme Court Ruling
Govan Law Centre is now challenging the council’s stance, pointing to provisions in the Equality Act 2010 that allow single-sex services in certain circumstances if they are a “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”.
Senior solicitor Lorna Walker cited the risks women face—such as male violence and the limited ability to leave an enclosed space like a taxi—and highlighted recent rises in domestic abuse and sexual offences in Glasgow. She questioned whether the council’s position had changed following the Supreme Court’s interpretation of “woman” and “man” as referring strictly to biological sex.
Council’s Response
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson confirmed they have asked Govan Law Centre for further details and reiterated: “All applications for licences are determined on the merits of an individual case and within the context of the legislation and policies that regulate this area of activity.”
What Happens Next
If the legal framework now supports such services, it could pave the way for female-only taxi operations in Glasgow—provided operators can demonstrate the service meets the legal test of proportionality and legitimate purpose.
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