The Mayor's instinctive loathing of Uber reveals something deep in Labour’s DNA

Transport for London's ban on the ride-sharing app Uber may apply only to the capital city, but it serves as a warning siren for a future under Jeremy Corbyn - a world designed for the few loudest interests, not the many who benefit from innovation and entrepreneurship. It sends a dismal message out to entrepreneurs and innovators at a time when Britain should be working to attract them.

And what of the millions already using the Uber app? First, and most obviously, Uber provides opportunities for its 45,000 drivers, many of whom come from immigrant backgrounds, to earn an above-living wage salary. Unlike traditional jobs, these drivers can decide when and where they work, affording them previously unimaginable choice and flexibility.

Thanks to the app, 3.5 million riders in London may also enjoy something unthinkable until recently - the chance to travel home inexpensively and safely. Unlike traditional cabs, if something goes wrong you have a digital record of who was driving and where you went, making it easier to trace wrong-doers, while its two-way rating system offers direct accountability. The app has been a god-send for female passengers in particular, who might be hesitant to travel in the back of a complete stranger’s vehicle, or board rowdy buses or tubes late at night.