Militant cabbies who vowed to blockade Trafalgar Square have boasted how their threats forced Sadiq Khan to give them everything they wanted. Last week the London mayor conceded almost every single one of the cabbies’ demands, as well as imposing punitive regulations on Uber. What might explain the timing? Well, the militant United Cabbies Group were threatening to bring London to a standstill this week unless Khan caved in. It would have looked pretty bad for the Mayor given he’s off making friends in America at the moment. The capitulation came and now United Cabbies Group have cancelled the blockade as “the Mayor brought forward his announcement because of the pressure of a demo”. London could have a Mayor who stands up to union intimidation, instead he gave in to blackmail so his photo op in the States wasn’t ruined…

Sadiq Khan has caved in to the taxi unions and awarded black cab drivers a staggering £65 million taxpayer subsidy, 100 new taxi ranks across London and the installation of 90 highly expensive rapid chargers, which electric private hire vehicles will not be allowed to use. At the same time the Mayor is forcing new red tape on private hire drivers, including “advanced driving” and written English tests which black cab drivers will not have to take. So how did the taxi unions end up getting everything they wanted?

Khan’s “action plan” contains 27 measures, almost identical to the 28 measures in the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association manifesto. The day before the plan was published the Deputy Mayor for Transport took part in a photo op with the head of the LTDA. Sadiq himself met the head of the LTDA on his hundreth day in office. By contrast Uber has not been consulted on any of the new measures – indeed the Deputy Mayor for Transport has ignored two invitations to meet Uber drivers. It’s notable that the LTDA are the only people outside City Hall and TfL in today’s press release – it’s clear that they have been heavily involved in drawing this up while private hire firms have been shunned. Sadiq promised he would be a Mayor who doesn’t give in to vested interests. Instead he’s capitulated to the taxi unions. Rather than level the playing field by reducing regulations on cabbies, he’s slapped red tape on the innovators who make travelling across the capital so much cheaper and easier for passengers…

Today’s Guardian reveals Unite bunged Len McCluskey £400,000 to help him buy a central London flat in February. So where has Red Len been living it up with his members’ money? This is the luxury apartment block where Unite generously decided to help Len buy, described as “stunning“, “stylish” and “superb” by estate agents.

The plush flats in the contemporary block are all kitted out like the one in these show apartment photos. Wood flooring, an open plan fitted kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows. Len has a “sought after” two bedder. The views aren’t bad either:

Nothing’s too good for the workers…

Unison has nominated Jeremy Corbyn for leader with 58% of the votes cast. That represents less than 1% of Unison’s total membership but Jezza’s campaign team are heartened that every region backed their man. Also worth giving yesterday’s much-vaunted GMB result backing Owen Smith some context. The GMB claims 631,000 members, but the low turnout means just 4.1% of those have declared in favour of Oily, compared to 2.8% backing Jez, so it was hardly the breakthrough Smith supporters were suggesting. Corbyn-backing Unite didn’t ballot their members but they did consult their policy conference of 1,000 or so rank and file members. He’s also backed by the Communication Workers Union, TSSA, ASLEF and the Bakers Union. Corbyn cleaned up with union affiliated last time…

Tom Watson has moved out of the flat he rented from a top Unite official after falling out with Len McCluskey. For years Watson has rented from Unite director Jim Mowatt – indeed he used the share the flat with Red Len a few years back. However in the last few weeks Labour’s deputy leader packed his bags and left. What caused the sudden move? It is no secret that Watson and McCluskey’s long friendship has suffered greatly during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. McCluskey has taken a hardline pro-Corbyn stance – he is said to be in thrall to his girlfriend Karie Murphy, Watson’s former office manager who is now a top Corbynista and key aide in the leader’s office. Watson on the other hand has repeatedly tried to get Corbyn to resign, leading to a complete breakdown in his relationship with McCluskey. It looks like things got so bad that Watson had to move out of the Unite lad pad. Or perhaps Tom just decided he needed more space after renting a room in a shared house for so long. Either way, he has been living in hotels ever since…

UPDATE: Watson gets in touch to say he isn’t living in a hotel. Hope he’s found somewhere nice.

Gobby Labour MP and Shadow Scotland Secretary Dave Anderson has written to his local paper to mouth off about “scabs” breaking the rail strike. The Newcastle Chronicle criticised Anderson for saying he wouldn’t use trains “operated by scab labour”. Anderson has now doubled down, writing:

“As long as people choose to take part in this despicable behaviour, then they should expect to be called exactly what they are and not seek any dignity by declaring themselves to be replacement or substitute workers. Scab is a hard word and it is meant to be so in order to prey on the consciences of those who would seek to prevent working people from being treated as respected partners in the workplace and not as serfs.”

Kinder, gentler politics, part 294…