Uber's London licence appeal could take years: Mayor Sadiq Khan

LONDON: Uber ’s appeal process against a decision by London’s transport regulator to strip the taxi app of its operating licence in the British capital could take years, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Thursday.

Transport for London shocked Uber in September by deeming it unfit to run a taxi service and refusing to renew its licence, a decision the Silicon Valley firm is appealing.

“My understanding is that it could go on for a number of years,” Khan said at a monthly question session when asked about how long the appeals process could last.

London’s transport regulator shocked Uber in September by deeming it unfit to run a taxi service and refusing to renew its license, citing the firm’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

Uber’s 40,000 drivers in the capital can continue to take rides there until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take months or years.

Uber only has around 40 drivers in the Brighton area out of a total of around 50,000 in Britain.

The council said it would use the next few months to negotiate with Uber on a number of proposed conditions for operating in the city.