Of course, what is really going on is London authorities are protecting
old-school black cab drivers against Uber competition. This is what
happens when you have government authorities overruling consumer
choices. Whoever has the influence with the central power gets the
favored treatment.

The same reason NYC taxi “medallions” cost $everal hundred thou$and.

https://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2019/11/anti-competition-cronyism-in-london.html?m=1

Uber has been stripped of its licence to operate in London.

The Transport for London, the London government agency that provides licenses to transport companies in the city, accused Uber of a “pattern of failures” and several regulatory breaches that had put “passenger safety and security at risk”.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “Keeping Londoners safe is my absolute number-one priority, and TfL have identified a pattern of failure by Uber that has directly put passengers’ safety at risk.”

In a statement, Uber called the decision “extraordinary and wrong.”

Of course, what is really going on is London authorities are protecting old-school black cab drivers against Uber competition. This is what happens when you have government authorities overruling consumer choices. Whoever has the influence with the central power gets the favored treatment.

One of the favored, the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, which represents black cab drivers, celebrated TfL’s decision, with this absurd commnet: “Londoners will be safer as a result.”

Kate Andrews at The Spectator nails it:

This ban is an act of pure cowardice – a cynical move dressed up in concern, designed to stitch up the market for cabbies, at the expense of thousands of drivers who use the app for work, and countless customers who can’t afford black cabs.

In a statement, Uber called the decision “extraordinary and wrong.”

Uber has 21 days to lodge an appeal with a magistrate and can continue to operate throughout the process.