Before the arrival of Uber, Britain’s taxi market was flabby and sclerotic. Black cabs overcharged for expertise that had been supplanted by satellite navigation technology, while minicab firms made customers wait. Londoners will be angry, therefore, that Transport for London (TfL) will not renew the licence of the popular ride-hailing app, pending appeal. If this turns out to be a protectionist move at the behest of the unions and the black cab lobby, it will seem a cheap, politically motivated decision and will damage Sadiq Khan, the mayor. If Uber has genuinely failed to play by the rules, however, it must be brought to heel.

Transport for London says it has declined to renew Uber’s licence on grounds of “public safety and security”. Beyond that,