Cab drivers win EU working hours fight

London cabbies are to be excluded from a plan to restrict the working time of commercial drivers to 48 hours a week, it emerged today.

An amendment under consideration by the European parliament would have classed black cab drivers alongside coach and van drivers. But after intensive lobbyingby cabbies it now appears the rules will not be applied to them on the grounds that most are self employed.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said the original EU plan would have reduced the number of cabbies and driven up prices.