Chairman of London Cab Drivers Club, Grant Davis has accused Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan of "not caring" about London, as new data threatens the future existence of black cab drivers in the capital.
The number of those driving black cabs has fallen significantly over the last decade, with just 14,470 drivers on the road today compared to 22,810 in 2013-2014.
Speaking to GB News, Davis claimed that London is "unsafe", and Khan "does not care" about the welfare of the city.
Grant Davis has taken aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan as black cab drivers are issued a fresh warning of extinction
GB News / PA
Discussing the latest report, Davis stressed that the increasing threat of Uber drivers and other private hire companies began "back in 2012", when they were granted their licence.
Davis explained: "It's come as no surprise to us in the cab trade. This hasn't just happened this week, this month, this year, it's happened since 2012, when Uber was granted a licence, and we've been on the back foot.
"At the moment, we have to buy a cab that's over £100,000, and we're facing over 100,000 minicab drivers who can use the family car, drop the kids off, stick a phone on their windscreen and become an Uber driver."
When asked by host Martin Daubney for his views on London Mayor Sadiq Khan's efforts to protect the iconic black cabs, Davis admitted that the industry has been faced with "resistance".
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PAHe told GB News: "He promised the cab trade a renaissance, and all we've had from this Mayor is a resistance. I don't think it's just black cabs he don't like, I don't think there's anything about London that he likes.
"The nightlife is dying, I'm out in my cab, I see kids with zombie knives fighting in the street, I'm watching guys on bikes grabbing phones - London is just such a worse place, it's an unsafe place."
When pressed on whether he would pick up Khan in his cab, Davis admitted: "Being a professional cab driver as I am, I would stop and ask him where he wanted to go... and take him the shortest route."
Offering his view on the report, Martin claimed that there is "barbed wire everywhere" for cab drivers to have to avoid in order to survive.
Davis told GB News that London is 'unsafe' and Khan 'does not care'
GB News
Martin stated: "I take cabs all the time and it's the same old conversations - Ulez licensing, 20 mile an hour zones, low traffic neighbourhoods - there's barbed wire everywhere you go, to try and take money out of your pocket.
"And a lot of that people say to me, cabbies all the time, is being driven by London Mayor Sadiq Khan."
Antonia Jennings, CEO of Centre for London, said: "Black Cabs are a fundamental part of London’s cityscape. We must not let them become part of the capital’s history.
"Alongside their cultural status, cabs offer what Londoners need today - accessible, convenient and safe transport. We should not be removing these options off the street.
"It’s simply unthinkable for London taxis to become extinct by 2045. Government must step up to support the Black Cab industry and turn this declining trajectory around, before it’s too late."
