
A local taxi boss has spoken of his disbelief after Swale Council ordered his company to remove Remembrance poppies and Royal British Legion stickers from his fleet following a single complaint.
Neil McLennan, owner of iCars, was told by a licensing officer that the displays violated council advertising policies.
The magnetic stickers,featuring military vehicles, a Union Flag and the phrase Lest We Forget, and poppies had been proudly displayed on the taxis for several years to support veterans and raise awareness for the charity.
Along with the poppies and RBL stickers, Neil was also told to peel off names from his cabs. These are used to make it easier for people with dementia, learning difficulties or disabilities to know what car is picking them up.
Speaking about the incident, Mr McLennan said: “I was in disbelief when I received the phone call. I just thought it was ridiculous and I was disgusted.”
He added: “We took them off 10 minutes after the call but told the council I was going to go public with what they had told me. It’s shameful. I am not a veteran but feel strongly about supporting those who have fought to protect us.”
The ruling sparked widespread anger from local leaders and politicians. Councillor Richard Palmer, a former soldier, demanded an immediate apology, stating: “It is absolutely disgraceful that a council would order people to remove such things which honour those who served. The council should apologise.”
Local Member of Parliament, Kevin McKenna, also intervened, writing to the council to urge a reversal and noting that the taxi firm provides an invaluable service to the community.
Following public backlash, the local authority has withdrawn its demand regarding additional name labels used to help disabled passengers.
A licensing sub-committee meeting is now scheduled to discuss a potential policy exemption for the charity displays.
A council spokesperson maintained that the action was taken solely due to a formal complaint regarding vehicle policy compliance rather than the cause itself, adding that the policy will be reviewed to ensure future clarity.

The Executive Committee will review the recommendation on September 2, and if approved, the revised policy will take effect on September 28. 

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