I fully support the #KnowYourRide campaign, a fantastic local initiative which highlights the many benefits of taking a taxi licensed here in St Helens.

In our borough, high standards of knowledge, skills, awareness and passenger safety are a prerequisite for any driver wishing to attain a taxi license. But since 2015, it has been legal to obtain a license in one area of the country, before going to work in another. While lawful, this practice makes it extremely difficult for St Helens Licensing Authority to hold drivers operating in the borough to account effectively ‰лв and also makes life harder for some of our brilliant local taxi drivers.

By supporting #KnowYourRide, you’ll not only be championing local business and receiving expert local knowledge, but you can rest safely assured that you’ll be enjoying the highest possible passenger safety standards, as set by our local authority.

To raise awareness of the scheme, which is now backed by Unite the Union and the National Trade Magazine, I met in Parliament with Cllr Jeanie Bell, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr Dave Banks, Chair of the Licensing Committee, and Lorraine Simpson, Licensing Manager at St Helens Council. It was also great that Wes Streeting MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis, could make it along too.

I would encourage all St Helens residents to #KnowYourRide and support local drivers when you travel. Simply ask any operator for a St Helens taxi, or look out for the Gold Standard Driver symbol on vehicles.