The internet has reacted with a mixture of astonishment and hilarity to the shock news that Uber has been stripped of its licence to operate in London.
This morning Transport for London (TfL) announced the firm – which has between 30,000 and 40,000 drivers – would be barred from working in the city due to ‘its approach to reporting criminal offences’.
Critics have blasted the move, claiming they will be unable to afford late-night lifts home and said it will put thousands of drivers out of work.
But those who back the decision say Uber failed to properly vet its employees and criticised their record on employment rights.
Within minutes of the bombshell news breaking, the internet jumped into action. Memes appeared showing people’s shock at Uber being stripped of its licence
Uber has already said they will appeal the decision.
Within minutes of the news breaking, memes started appearing on Twitter with the hashtag #uber.
One user tweeted a picture of a black cab driver along with the caption: ‘Uber are getting kicked out of London? Back to: “End of the road? £25 mate.”‘
Another user posted a picture of The Only Way is Essex star Gemma Collins with a glass of wine with the words: ‘Live scenes from the black cabbies conference.’
And one posted a picture of Monica and Rachel from Friends, along with the word, ‘noooo’.
This was joined by a caption reading: ‘How’re we going to get places now!? If anyone suggests I’ll have to speak to taxi drivers again I’ll have a tantrum.’
Many jokes focussed on black cab drivers and the presumption they will now see a huge upswing in business now that their main competitor has been driven out of London
Many jokes focussed on black cab drivers and the presumption they will now see a huge upswing in business now that their main competitor has been driven out of London.
One tweet showed a picture of Tom Cruise’s character in Jerry Maguire saying the famous catchphrase ‘show me the money’.
That was joined by a caption that said: ‘Black cabbies right now at the news on #uber in London.’
One user posted a gif of a toddler on the floor having a tantrum alongside a crying face emoji.
Uber claimed the decision showed that London was ‘closed to innovative companies’. The internet had a slightly more light-hearted response
Uber said in a statement that the decision would ‘show the world that, far from being open, London is closed to innovative companies’. The firm’s current licence expires on September 30.
The firm has faced a barrage of criticism in recent years over the safety of customers, working rights for drivers and opposition from black cab drivers.
But the internet’s response was a lot more light-hearted.
Another tweet showed an animated GIF of a dancing man with the caption ‘black cab drivers right now #London #Uber.’
Actor James Franco, TV host Steve Harvey and even a South Park character all featured as the internet reacted to new Uber’s London licence had been stripped
One user tweeted, ‘TFL: You can not operate without a licence. It’s the law.’
That was juxtaposed with a picture of a South Park character embossed with the words, ‘I am above the law!’
Another posted a picture of a confused looking James Franco accompanied with the words ‘*Phone notification* ‘Uber has been banned in London.’
One Twitter user compared the ban to earlier events in London such as Big Ben’s bell being suspended