Liz tells Mayor Ken: "Save the black cab!"

11.34.55am GMT Mon 24th Mar 2003

Liz Lynne visiting the Coventry-based factory of London Taxis International.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has written to the London Mayor Ken Livingstone, asking him not to lower standards in London cabs, which would threaten manufacturing in the West Midlands.

The famous "black cab" or Hackney Carriage, synonymous with the streets of London, is in fact built by two companies - London Taxis International, based in Coventry, and Metrocab, based in Tamworth. A niche market, they work to high standards in terms of disabled people's access and clean emissions. However, a proposal to lower the high standards of taxis in London would mean that taxi companies would be able to use cheap, converted vans, which would severely threaten the specialist industry.

Commenting, Liz said:

"The black cab is one of London's status symbols that Ken Livingstone can ill-afford to lose. But as well as putting hundreds of jobs at risk, I am concerned at how the lowering of standards will affect disabled people. Ken should be proud that London is one of the few cities in the world where disabled people can depend on getting an accessible taxi whenever they want one - lowering these standards would mean they would not longer be able to depend on the service and undermine their rights as individuals."

Hackney Carriages are synonymous with London.

"2003 is the European Year of People with Disabilities - it would be a sorry state of affairs if disabled people's access in London was actually reduced at this time."

Liz's Liberal Democrat colleague Tom Brake MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on the subject (no. 778). It currently has 46 signatories (for more information, see http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=778).