London — Uber said it would appeal after it lost a legal attempt in London’s High Court to stop the city’s transport regulator from forcing private hire drivers to prove their reading and writing skills in English. Uber launched legal action in August after public body Transport for London (TfL) said that drivers should have to prove their ability to communicate in English, with reading and writing skills set at a standard Uber said was too high. However, the court rejected that claim although, on Friday, Uber did manage to overturn proposals by TfL that drivers have permanent private hire insurance and for Uber to operate a 24/7 call-centre. "Transport for London’s own estimates show that their plans will put more than 33,000 existing private hire drivers out of business," said Tom Elvidge, GM of Uber in London. "That’s why we intend to appeal this unfair and disproportionate new rule." Reuters

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