One of the things I’ve learned quickly since being elected is that some of the biggest issues affecting people day-to-day aren’t always the ones that make national headlines. They’re the practical things: whether you can get to work reliably, whether public services feel joined-up, and whether the systems meant to keep people safe actually work in practice.
Taxi and private hire licensing is a good example of that. Most people only think about it when they need to get home safely after a night out, get to a hospital appointment, or make it to the station for an early train. But behind the scenes, councils across the country – including ours – have been wrestling with outdated rules that made it harder to enforce consistent standards.
Since being elected, I’ve been speaking with councillors, licensing officers and drivers from right across Peterborough and Huntingdonshire. The message was the same everywhere I went: the law hadn’t kept pace with how the taxi trade works today. Drivers licensed in one council area could operate almost entirely in another, and that left local authorities with uneven powers to intervene when something went wrong. It wasn’t fair on local drivers, it made enforcement more complex, and it didn’t give passengers the clarity or reassurance they should have.
I said I would take those concerns to Westminster – and I have. Over the past few months, I’ve been pushing the Government to give councils the tools they need, including during the Committee Stage of the English Devolution Bill. I’m delighted that ministers have now agreed to adopt the proposals I put forward, meaning the law will finally change.
This is a real win for our area. It closes a loophole that has caused problems here for years and gives councils the clearer, stronger powers they’ve been asking for. It means fairer rules for drivers, better consistency between neighbouring authorities, and safer journeys for passengers.
During the debate in Parliament, Local Government Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, specifically recognised the work we’ve been doing to push this forward. That acknowledgement matters – not for me personally, but because it shows what can be achieved when we speak with a united local voice.
The taxi and private hire trade is a vital part of our community. Many drivers have told me how proud they are of the service they provide, whether that’s supporting residents who don’t have access to a car or making sure someone gets home safely after a night out. They want a level playing field and a system that is fair, transparent and properly enforced. This change helps deliver that.
For me, this is exactly what being an MP should be about: listening, working with people on the ground, and making sure local concerns lead to national action. I’ll keep doing that – whether it’s on transport, policing, health, or any of the other issues you’ve raised with me. And as ever, if there’s something you think needs fixing, please do get in touch.