This regulation was spnsored by one Tim Yeo who is an MP in the UK. He also sits on various bodies associated with saving us from CO2. He was involved in creating this regulation and signing it into law.
Oh, hang on - he is a director of a company that imports ---- replacement taxis
Taxi Trouble Mounts for Tim Yeo Eco City Vehicles CEO Signed Age Limit Deal - Guy Fawkes' blog
Hmmmm. So lets gets this straight - London Taxis tend to be kept going over millions of miles (average life of a UK car is under 200K) but now no longer. They will be scrapped.
Underneath the LT1 body is actually a very modern Nissan Diesel - latest emissions gear and everything.
And now we will replace them with imported Mercedes, Citroen and Peugeot vehicles.
Well done greenies, well done - all those green jobs again
Anyway the company that makes the LT1 is now also going bust.
London black cab maker Manganese Bronze enters administration | Business | guardian.co.uk
As for the drivers, the training is pretty hard in London - the rest of the UK just has a limited numbers licencing scheme - so owning a taxi badge is worth £000's even if you don't drive. Only "black cabs" are allowed to pick up at the kerbside, minicabs (aka cars) have to pre-book.