Peter Bone criticises “bizarre” council proposal where taxi drivers are penalised for not wearing a tie
Peter Bone #PeterBone
Wellingborough MP Peter Bone has hit out at “bizarre” plans from West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to impose new policies on the area’s taxi drivers. The plans, which include the implementation of a dress code, were called “nonsense” by the veteran Conservative MP as he spoke on the Jeremy Vine show on Wednesday morning, March 1.
The draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy from WNC would introduce a penalty point system where drivers would face losing their license if for not complying with the drivers’ dress code or not arriving for a booking on time. WNC insists the proposals are to keep passengers safe and announced today they would be extending the public consultation on the plans.
Mr Bone’s comments come almost a week after over 100 taxi drivers staged a protest outside Northampton’s guildhall in which some called the proposals “draconian” and “racist”. Mr Bone said on Wednesday that he “would be on the protests” with them.
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WNC announced the draft policy last month, which it said aimed to “maintain vital safety standards.” New proposals include strengthening the “fit and proper person” test and tests on drivers’ spoken English.
Similar to the DVLA system, driver would get points for breaking certain guidelines. These include two points for failure to keep vehicle reasonably clean or failing to search vehicle after journey and two points for not being “clean and respectable in their dress.”
The proposals would also require foreign nationals who have stayed in another country for more than three months to obtain a ‘certificate of good conduct’ from their relevant embassy of the country. This also applies to UK citizens in they have lived outside the country for more than three months at a time.
Members of the App Drivers & Couriers Union (ACDU) organised a rally through Northampton town centre last Friday, February 24. Those at the march told the BBC they found the proposals “racist and misguided”.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine show, Mr Bone said he “would be on the protests with the taxi drivers outside the Guildhall”. He also clarified it was a matter for West Northamptonshire and not his area of North Northamptonshire.
He said: “It seems as though they’re going to give you a number of points if you don’t dress properly and I don’t know what dressing properly means. It is most bizarre.”
“I just want to know that the taxi driver is going to get me from A to B safely, and I don’t care what they wear. These taxi drivers are superb, I’ve never had any problem with any of them.” This seems a bit of a nonsense”
Host Jeremy Vine then asked the MP “Why can’t they wear a tie? You’re wearing one.” Mr Bone responded: “I have to wear the uniform, don’t I? I have to wear this.”
The panel erupted into laughter when Jeremy said: “A person in a suit, if he’s a man, is going to be a better driver than a person in shorts, and there’s no question about that.”
After one panelist complimented him on his tie, Mr Bone was forced to admit that he had originally worn a “beautiful pink tie” but that he “spilt something down it and had to change it.”
Jeremy then asked Mr Bone why he was wearing a tie outside of the House of Commons, where it is part of the dress code. Mr Bone said “I can take it off if it offends you. The reason why I’m wearing this is because after this I’m going to Prime Minister’s Questions.”
WNC announced today (March 2) that is was extending the public consultation period from March 26 to to Sunday 23 April “to allow people more time to fully review it and consider their views.”
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services on West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We have been encouraged by the high level of engagement and feedback we have already received as a result of this public consultation.
“A number of people have asked that we extend the consultation period to enable further time for residents, businesses and professional drivers to fully review the policy and have their say. We want to hear everyone’s views, so we are more than happy to extend the consultation period by another four weeks to allow people sufficient time to respond.”
Once the consultation closes, all responses will be evaluated and considered. The evaluation will then be presented along with the policy to WNC’s Licensing Committee for consideration.
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