Uber in London

European Straits #38

Dear all,

The news that Uber would lose its license to operate in London was welcomed with applause around Europe. It’s a sign of the attention Uber has attracted in recent years. It also reveals the growing mistrust that the tech industry inspires in elite European circles.

Of course, the reports of Uber’s death in London have been greatly exaggerated. Not only does the ride-hailing platform continue to operate (which I appreciate as a Londoner), it’s also likely that they’ll manage to comply with what Transports for London (TfL) demands, regaining their license after all.

As for Mayor Sadiq Khan’s tough stand against Uber, you can very much interpret it as the result of his expected submission to the local taxi industry—which, as in every large city in the world, entertains a privileged (and murky) relationship with the local authorities. (It’s also a typical case of a Labour official seeking the spotlight in case of, say, future cabinet opportunities—perhaps even a leadership challeng…