Cross Border Hiring Debate
UK Parliamentary Debate
Oldham Dual Drivers Unity recently held an important meeting with Andy Burnham, during which a number of other organisations were also present.
At this meeting, Andy Burnham informed us that a parliamentary debate on cross-border hiring will take place on Monday, 24 November 2025.
This is a crucial moment for all of us.
We finally have an opportunity to push for change – but it will only happen if we take action now.
Why Your Action Matters
Andy Burnham has provided an email template specifically for drivers and supporters to send to their local MPs. Oldham Dual Drivers Unity strongly encourages every driver to take a few minutes to send this email and to ask fellow drivers to do the same.
If we fail to act, and the case is not progressed on Monday, the issue of cross-border hiring may once again be pushed aside — and there is no guarantee it will return to Parliament anytime soon.
How to Take Action (It Only Takes 2 Minutes)
Scroll down to the highlighted box below – you will find the full email text Andy Burnham provided.
Copy the entire text.
Click the link for your local MP at the bottom of the page – this will open your email client automatically.
Paste the email template, add your name at the bottom, and click Send.
That’s it.
A small action from each of us can make a big difference for every driver in Oldham and beyond.
Dear Member of Parliament
Private Hire Vehicles – out of area licensing
The issue of private hire vehicles being able to license with authorities which are different to the area in which they operate has been raised for many years by taxi drivers, trade unions and safety campaigners.
Most recently, Baroness Louise Casey recommended that out of area licensing should be ended on safeguarding grounds and rightly the Government accepted her recommendation.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill provides an opportunity for this important matter to be addressed now rather than waiting for a specific Bill sometime in the future.
To that end Greater Manchester MP Elsie Blundell has tabled a clause (NC83) to amend the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at Report Stage on Monday.
The clause has been legally reviewed and Counsel advice found no faults with it and flagged no unintended consequences.
The Government have tabled an amendment to bring in national standards, which we all support. However, the Government’s amendment will fail to effectively empower licensing authorities to enforce those standards by ensuring drivers are licensed locally. The clause in Elsie’s name will strengthen the Government’s amendment.
The recent transport select committee on taxi and private hire also agreed that Government needed to address this issue and give national powers of enforcement to all licensing officers.
I am therefore asking you to please support the Clause in Elsie Blundell’s name at Report stage on Monday so that this loop-hole can be closed and national standards then enforced.
Thank you