The license is not being renewed not because TfL isn't interested in innovation (they actively encourage it), not to retain power for the black cab drivers, and not because London isn't interested in companies like Uber operating here.
It's because of the rapes.
The Metropolitan Police (the part of the UK police force that polices London), has objected to their license.
In 2015 alone, they had to deal with 32 cases of Uber drivers raping or sexually assaulting lone female passengers.
In the entire history of the hackney carriage (black cab) license - going back to 1662 - I know of only one case of a driver having been prosecuted for rape, about 5 years ago.
Uber is not reporting crimes, not co-operating with the police when they are reported, is not doing suitable background checks on criminality or medical suitability for being a private hire driver on its "workforce", and there is suspicion that they are both price gouging and specifically trying to go around the private hire regulations they claim to support.
Also from the TfL statement:
> The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 includes provision to appeal a licensing decision within 21 days of it being communicated to the applicant. Uber London Limited can continue to operate until any appeal processes have been exhausted.
That means they're not shutting up shop soon, they can appeal in the next 8 days, then continue to operate until the appeals process is over.
That means if they start dealing with driver checks, crime reports and regulations properly within the time frame of the appeals process (which can be years), they'll be allowed to continue to operate.
As a Londoner, I'm OK with that. If they aren't interested in conducting criminal record checks, medical checks, making sure my gf is safe when travelling alone, etc. I don't want them in my city.
If the regulators bring about these changes, they are doing their job and I'm happy for them to scare the holy fuck out of Uber and their management team in the process to make that happen.
In the meantime, other operators have upped their game a lot in recent years whilst Uber has been operating. Addison Lee (one of the larger private hire firms) has an app almost as good as Uber's, with fixed cost pricing.
We will not miss Uber if they go, they are going to need to show that they are worthy of being a part of the diverse and amazing London community if they wish to remain.