Secrets of a cabbie – from most expensive times to travel to the passenger question he hates most
If you’ve ever spent your morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, our Money blog speaks to someone from a different profession to discover what it’s really like. This week we chat to Mark White, who has been a London cab driver for 33 years…
Our salaries have fallen £15,000… Pre-pandemic, a full-time London cabbie could earn around £35,000-£45,000 net. These days, with rising operating costs (weekly lease for an electric taxi alone can exceed £300) and increased competition from app-based private hire vehicles, many are earning significantly less. A driver’s take-home can now be closer to £25,000-£30,000 unless they work long hours, and even then it’s unpredictable.
Uber has… fundamentally changed the industry, not because of innovation, but because it exploited regulatory gaps. Many cabbies see Uber drivers as pawns in a wider system that undercuts standards. It’s not personal: most understand that those drivers are trying to earn a living, too. But there’s frustration that private hire vehicle drivers can operate with far fewer requirements, while taxi drivers face intense regulation with no enforcement parity.
One of the biggest challenges is… running a compliant, electric cab in a city that lacks adequate charging infrastructure. I would like to see proper EV support – charging access, grants, scrappage schemes that actually help. I would also like taxi access to all bus lanes and areas to be restored.
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Mark White has been a London cab driver for 33 years
To do this job you need… to complete The Knowledge. It’s a three to four-year process, covering over 25,000 streets in a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. You’re tested regularly in person. It’s not just about navigation – it’s judgement, memory, and mental resilience. The most important skill? Patience. Both behind the wheel and in life.
I used to say I would retire at… 65 but who knows now? With costs rising and pensions shrinking, many of us work well into our seventies. My plan is simple: stay healthy, stay behind the wheel while I can.
The most expensive day and time for someone to get a taxi is… anytime we’re stuck in traffic – London’s the most congested city in the world. But the meter is regulated, so unlike surge-pricing apps, passengers always know what to expect.
I love a good natter but… I can tell pretty quickly if someone wants silence. The question I wish people would stop asking? “So, do you use a sat nav?”-I spent four years doing The Knowledge. Of course I don’t.
I only refuse fares for… legitimate reasons. If the passenger is aggressive, drunk and disorderly. But if I’m working, and they’re safe, I’ll go anywhere.
Some of the best things I’ve overheard in my cab are… a couple breaking up. Midway through a row, she calmly asked, “Can I get out now?” He said: “Not till you hear me out.” They were still arguing when I pulled over. Also overheard a guy rehearsing his marriage proposal. Practised it four times. He tipped well.
I have met plenty of famous people over the years… One of the best was Sir Ian McKellen. He was polite, warm, and tipped generously, and Ken Bates – the old Chelsea chairman.
Sir Ian was a good tipper, Mark says. Pic: CelebrityPhotosUK/Cover Images/AP
The biggest tip I ever got was from a… city gent. He gave me £100 on a £25 fare. He’d just landed a big deal and said I reminded him of his old man. Can’t argue with that!
I have chased a fare dodger once… I chased him through Soho before realising how ridiculous I looked. These days, you call the police or write it off. It doesn’t happen often now with contactless payments, but it still stings when it does.
My worst experience with a passenger was… one who threw up in the back and then legged it without paying.
And my best was… a young lad going to a job interview. He was nervous, told me his whole story. Six months later, he flagged me down again in the same suit, now working, and wanted to say thanks.
I have felt unsafe at work… a few times, especially late at night. Once, a group tried to pile in drunk and rowdy. I locked the doors and drove off. Mostly, you get good instincts – and having a CCTV helps.
The best perk of the job is… freedom. You’re your own boss. You meet people from all walks of life. And when you help someone get home safely, or pick up an elderly passenger who hasn’t been out in weeks, it feels like more than just a job.
On a typical day, I work for… eight to 10 hours, depending on trade. Some work split shifts, others nights. You start early, check your cab, hit the ranks or roam, maybe take a break mid-afternoon, then back on for the evening rush.
It does make me hate driving in my personal life… a bit. I avoid Central London on my days off. But outside the M25, with no traffic, radio on, it’s actually relaxing.
Read more from this series:
What it’s really like to be a… bodyguard
What it’s really like to be a… zookeeper
What it’s really like to be a… driving instructor
The worst habit of British drivers is… lane-hogging. And not signalling. In London, the worst is cyclists jumping red lights and scooter riders weaving without warning. It’s chaos sometimes.
The most memorable moment on the job was… taking a WWII veteran to the Cenotaph. He told me stories all the way there. I didn’t charge him. He cried. So did I, a bit.
To save money on cab fares, you should… travel outside peak times. Avoid heavy traffic areas. And always ask if there’s a quicker route – that might save a few quid. Also, share a cab if it suits your journey.
The meter… works out what to charge people. It’s regulated by TfL and based on time and distance. There’s no guesswork. What you see is what you pay.
UK
‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed
Gary Lineker has confirmed reports he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.
It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.
In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.
Read more: A history of Gary Lineker’s most controversial posts
“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Lineker has fronted Match Of The Day since 1999. PA
Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.
In a video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.
“There’s no place for it and never should be.”
He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.
He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”
Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.
‘A defining voice in football coverage’
Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.
“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.
“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the role of presenting Match of the Day. Pic BBC/PA
The former England star announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.
The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.
He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.
Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.
He is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.
Lineker parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.
A “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency – including criminal records – was accessed and downloaded by hackers, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.
The group that carried out the cyber attack says it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not verified that figure, it is understood.
The government became aware of the incident on 23 April, but realised on Friday it was more extensive than first thought.
An MoJ source put the breach down to the “neglect and mismanagement” of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the Legal Aid Agency systems have been known for many years.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ, which is responsible for administering legal aid funding – around £2.3bn in 2023/24.
The data accessed affected those who applied for legal aid in the last 15 years, and may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.
The MoJ has urged anyone who applied for legal aid since 2010 to update any passwords that could have been exposed, and be alert to unknown messages and phone calls.
The organisation’s digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid, have been taken offline.
‘We needed to take radical action’
Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle has apologised for the breach and acknowledged the news would be “shocking and upsetting”.
“Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency,” she said.
“However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we’ve taken the decision to take the online service down,” she said.
Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place for those who need legal support and advice.
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Retail disruption to ‘last months’
The Law Society, an organisation representing solicitors across the UK, blamed the attack on Legal Aid’s “antiquated IT system”.
“The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA’s antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system,” said a Law Society spokesperson.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the data breach.
The National Crime Agency said it was aware of the incident and was working closely with the MoJ to “better understand the incident and support the department”.
It comes after retailers Co-op, Harrods and Marks & Spencer were hit by cyber attacks, although there is no suggestion that they are connected to the incident at the LAA.
The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey has been sacked by the band, marking the second time he has left in the past month.
The band’s guitarist Pete Townshend made a statement on Instagram on Sunday, saying: “After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change.
“A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.”
The announcement comes weeks before the iconic British rock group’s farewell tour.
In response, Starkey, who had been a band member since 1996, said in an Instagram post he would “never have quit” and had experienced “weeks of mayhem”.
“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit to follow my other musical endeavours,” he wrote.
“Not true. I love The Who and would never have quit and let down so many amazing people who stood up for me through all this madness.”
Reports surfaced in April that the band had taken the “collective decision” to sack Starkey after a row over their Teenage Cancer Trust shows in March.
Roger Daltrey and Starkey on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in March. Pic: PA
A review of one gig, published in the Metro, suggested frontman Roger Daltrey, who launched the annual gig series for the charity in 2000, had been “frustrated” with the drumming during some tracks.
According to the review, Daltrey at one point paused a song and said: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.”
At the time, the 59-year-old drummer said he was “surprised and saddened” by news of his sacking.
Three days after the reports came out, a statement on the band’s official social media pages titled “News Flash! Who Backs Zak,” said he was “not being asked to step down from The Who”.
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In it, Townshend said: “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.
“Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up and he has readily agreed.”
Later in the lengthy statement, he said regarding the gigs: “Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised.”
At that point, Starkey – who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr – reposted Townshend’s statement, with the message: “V grateful to be a part of the Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx”.
Starkey also drums for supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos – along with fellow musicians Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays, and Andy Bell of Ride and Oasis – and has previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr.
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