LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan's decision to introduce the Congestion Charge for minicabs does "serious harm" to ethnic minority drivers, the High Court heard on Wednesday (10).
Khan's decision to remove minicabs' exemption from the £11.50 daily fee came into effect in April and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain argues that it indirectly discriminates against a 94 per cent BAME workforce.
The union said that 88 per cent of London's traditional black cab drivers were white and remained exempt from the charge.
It also pointed out that women, who are more likely to work part-time, were disproportionately affected, and disabled passengers would be adversely affected by a reduction in the number of available minicabs.
Ben Collins QC, representing the union, said: "Drivers are driven out of business or required to work hours which impact on their family, well-being and potentially health.
"Disabled passengers have their ability to travel to central London significantly affected.
"The question for the court is whether the removal of the exemption is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim."
He noted that 71 per cent of minicab drivers affected lived in the most deprived areas of London.
Collins said: "Not only do that large proportion of them live in deprived areas, but their earnings are typically low.
"The mean annual earnings of a drive is £28,000 gross, that is less than £23,000 net."
Lawyers for the London mayor and Transport for London said the removal of the exemption was an important step to reduce road congestion and traffic within the Congestion Charge zone without reducing the number of wheelchair-accessible passenger transport vehicles.
A spokesperson for Khan said: "The number of private hire vehicles entering the Congestion Charge zone has increased from 4,000 a day when the Congestion Charge first came into operation to more than 18,000 before the exemption was removed.
"We can't ignore the damaging impact this has on congestion and increasing air pollution."
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During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)