R (United Trade Action Group Ltd) v Transport for London

Subject Matter

LICENSING — Private hire vehicle — Bookings — Licensed private hire vehicle operator providing services to passengers in London through smartphone app — Whether operator acting as agent of driver or required to accept contractual obligation to passenger as principal — Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (32 & 33 Vict c 115), ss 4, 7 — Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (c 34), ss 4, 5

[2021] EWHC 3290 (Admin); [2022] 1 WLR 2043; [2022] 2 All ER 797; [2021] WLR(D) 614, DC

LICENSING — Private hire vehicle — Bookings — Operator’s private hire vehicles available for passengers to book through smartphone app showing location of vehicles — Whether operator’s vehicles unlawfully “plying for hire” — Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (32 & 33 Vict c 115), s 7

[2022] EWCA Civ 1026; [2023] 1 WLR 367; [2023] 2 All ER 98; [2022] RTR 32; [2022] WLR(D) 323, CA

Appellate History