A New Year Message... From Semtex

To all my colleagues and friends in the great London Cab Trade, may I wish you and your families a very healthy and lucky New Year.

I have met some fantastic mates in our profession, from all Unions/Clubs/Associations and Groups.
However, I would like to wish a special lucky 2012, to my close colleagues of the brilliant UCG, the mighty RMT and of course our very own LTDF, which allows us to converse with each other, without having to hold court at the front of a rank somewhere !

It has been a rocky ride for most of us during the global economic downturn, and our barometer like trade has dealt with it as best we could.

The financial analysts are still indifferent to their prognosis of the future, and I guess despite the huge salaries that they earn to predict the economy, nobody really knows what's in store.

Likewise, the London Cab Trade have a lot to contend with this coming New Year, and we have much work to do.
For me personally, and without doubt the most worrying of all, is the meddling and poking around of our 350 year old legacy, by the inexperienced and ill advised Law Commission Officers.

Despite their ignorance of the mechanics of our trade, their combined power of authority should never be undermined.
Although it is only Parliament itself that can turn a recommendation into law, advisories from this extremely high ranking panel, are more than likely turned into the laws of our land.

Naturally, the Commissioners themselves do not have a knowledge of everything, so instead rely on the evidence and advice from advisers within the various trades.

Looking at the advisers who represent us for example, doesn't actually fill me with optimism.

I shall be watching the movements of this brief with eagle eye, and our UCG and RMT already have their fingers firmly on the pulse.

As we all know, the STAN project turned out like we all knew it would. A load of old ill informed cobblers. Misleading, unworkable, deceitful, poorly policed and dreadfully ill advised.

With the City Police especially, taking a unhealthy and short sighted view of satellite venues, we are having difficulty holding back the tide. The rapes in mini cabs still take place, the touting still goes on and the piss poor enforcement is an International embarrassment.

Today, our Capital City is rolling along on a wing and a prayer. The weak link of the TFL chain is being stretched tighter and tighter and tighter. The welding has broken away,the link has widened and the chain is in imminent danger of breaking altogether.
Sadly and predictably, when it eventually breaks, people's lives will be taken, and their grieving loved ones who are left behind, will change forever.
Irrespective of this certainty, the financial revenue money making machine of Transport for London, chugs along in contemptible defiance.

Thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds roll in to TFL's Toffee Apple business, selling mini cab roundels for their existence.

To my mind, it is akin to a gorgeous trainee barrister being unable to make the law grades in which she set out to achieve , and so turning to prostitution instead. And that is exactly what Transport for London are..........Prostitutes. Selling themselves for money, because they cannot do the job that they were put there for.

This year, has seen our trade seemingly fighting in every corner. Millwall may reckon that "no one like us " but London Cabbies must be a pretty close second !

It seems as though the whole of the bent, unworkable system is attacking our legacy.
It is outrageous of course.

For hundreds of years, our profession have dealt with billions of miles of London's traffic chaos, safely taking Londoners, professionals, foreign nationals, children, business people and royalty to their chosen destinations, with a platinum service that the whole world envies.

Our loyalty and commitment have been swept aside in ruthless disregard, by a new breed of multi-cultural idealists, uncaring and disinterested in tomorrow...........only today.

By the time they realise what they have done, it will all be too late.

Irrespective of our plight, our London Taxi Trade still have much to fight for, and plenty to win.
Despite the touts, despite the flawed and useless STAN, despite the City Police's cosy relationship with satellite mini cabs, despite a woeful and appallingly useless enforcement team, despite the Olympics and despite everything else that makes us believe that our time is up.................it really isn't !

There is enough of us in unity to fight these traitors. There is enough combined strength in our ranks to DEMAND WHAT WE ARE HAVING, NOT WHAT THE IMPOSTORS SAY THEY ARE GIVING US !

We cannot and WON'T lie back and take it anymore ! 
Oliver Cromwell The Protector gave us the rights to ply in the metropolis unhindered if we could demonstrate and prove our criteria to be fit and proper persons.
We are ! They ain't ! So bollocks to the lot of them !

God must have been looking down on our trade when we saw the creation of the UCG.

This group will undoubtedly go on to become the strongest London Taxi Trade Representation that we have ever seen.

I am extremely proud to be a founder member, and may I say, that the colleagues of ours who work so constantly hard to keep it alive are amongst the most honourable, professional and dedicated men that I HAVE EVER STOOD WITH.
Trust my judgement when I tell you this, as I have been privileged to be associated with some extraordinary special men in my past life.

With the tungsten teeth of our green lanyard pals of RMT Taxi Section, our trade will soon see a regroup of strength that we have never seen or witnessed.

Although 2012 will surely be a difficult balancing act, I am convinced that due to the two assault battalions already mentioned, our trade will be victorious in dealing with the battles that face us.

We haven't lasted hundreds of years because we are impostors, weak and clueless.

Our trade has survived through the centuries due to our professionalism, our gold service, our knowledge, our pride, our dignity, our camaraderie and our skill.

There is no way we are going to let a group of spineless pension guided civil servants or mealy mouthed bent politicians steer us into oblivion !

There are some massive surprises cooking for our useless hierarchy coming any minute now. When they come, it will weaken the establishment severely.
It is at that point that we shall strike, and our great trade will live on for another 300 years.

Bring it on TFL, we are waiting for you.
To all my colleagues and friends, regardless of badge colour, skin colour or eye colour, may I wish you all a safe, happy and lucky New Year.

Look after your families, look after your health and look after your own.

2012 will see us re-establish in massive unity.

Just before closing, may I just say this.

During my time involved in this proud occupation, I have talked, stood and sat side by side with some wonderful men and women.

I could name dozens who I am so very very proud to be seen with, and they all know who they are.


8829 Semtex