
Asylum seekers will be banned from using taxis for most medical journeys, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced.
Under the new rules, taxi use for medical travel will be restricted to "exceptional" cases such as physical disability, pregnancy or serious illness - and these will require government approval.
Ms Mahmood made the announcement after a BBC investigation found "widespread" use of taxis by asylum seekers, including for long journeys - with one case involving a 250-mile trip to see a GP.
According to reports, transport for asylum seekers has cost the government an average of almost £16m a year.
All service providers will be required to stop using taxis for medical journeys from February next year and the government is now working to help introduce alternatives such as public transport.
"This government inherited Conservative contracts that are wasting billions of taxpayers' hard-earned cash," the home secretary said.
"I am ending the unrestricted use of taxis by asylum seekers for hospital appointments, authorising them only in the most exceptional circumstances."
Cabbies say the system was open to "abuse", accusing sub-contractors of inflating mileage, for instance by dispatching drivers over long distances to perform much shorter journeys.
One told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had been dispatched from Gatwick to take an asylum seeker more than 50 miles away in Reading to an appointment only 1.5 miles from his hotel. A second driver was reportedly sent from Heathrow, about 30 miles away, to bring the same man back from the appointment.

The Taxi Centre has stepped up to support Glasgow’s taxi trade and a local charity, raising a further £2,600 for a cancer charity, bringing the total raised for the charity this year to £4,300.

Malik Paracha’s licence was taken away in March 2025 when Buckinghamshire Council officers became aware that he had committed ‘multiple motoring offences’.

Madjid Belabes, 53, arranged for the five cabbies to take people from London to lay-bys in Kent before being put in lorries and taken to France.

A driver accused of switching off his meter, quoting inflated prices and demanding cash only, or behaving in a way that’s opposite to what passengers expect from a licensed professional driver. 

From 1 December 2025, Norwich City Council is introducing enhanced licensing standards and a fresh look for plates and badges - the latest step to keep taxi journeys safe and professional.

However this particular individual who described himself as working for Leeds City Council was gesturing for me to pick him up in the hackney carriage rank.

Traditional desk operator at Manchester Airport .... tender not awarded???

From 1 January 2026, private hire vehicle operators - ride hailing apps - WILL NO LONGER be able to use the Tour Operators Margin Scheme to reduce their VAT liabilities/

The government will not amend VAT legislation to allow PHVOs to act as agents for tax purposes in all cases

Police Scotland had objected to the licence being granted to Greg Davidson following routine checks that revealed a live conviction which he had failed to declare on his application form.

The operation was a joint effort between Barnsley Council enforcement officers, South Yorks Police, and teams from other authorities, including Wolverhampton, Kirklees, Sheffield, and Leeds.

Craig Mahon, 35, refused to pay the fare and brandished the knife at the driver on Saturday, October 18. The victim was unharmed, and Mahon fled the scene.

On the eve of the Budget, MPs together with Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, delivered a petition to No 10 calling on Chancellor to keep Fuel Duty frozen or even cut it.

They came across this Wolverhampton licensed PHV on a taxi rank in the Town Centre.

Mamun appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on November 14 to challenge the Bradford Council's decision, which was made in January of this year.

Councillors have unanimously approved the engagement, which will involve a broad range of stakeholders

The new model, Bolt Flex, lets drivers out of London set their own trip prices, accept price offers from passengers, run their work like independent businesses, with a flat commission for each trip.

At 2pm on Tuesday, 25th November, Lewis Cocking MP for Broxbourne will lead a group of MPs from various parties to deliver a 152,000-signature petition to Number 10 and 11 Downing Street.

The findings were published in the council’s annual review of taxis and minicabs, covering the period from October 2024 to September 2025. 

The two-day operation over the weekend of November 15 and 16, saw South Wales Police team up with taxi licensing teams from Cardiff and Newport councils, as well as the DVSA.
