Government to Ban Asylum Seekers from Taxi Services

Thomas Edwards | 30th November 2025 | Politics, Uncategorised
Dülmen,_Karthaus,_-London_Taxi-_--_2014_--_0224

The government plans to end most taxi travel for asylum seekers attending medical appointments, replacing it with public transport and tightening Home Office oversight.

Government moves to ban most taxi travel for asylum seekers attending medical appointments, placing transport policy at the heart of the UK’s migration overhaul. The ban will come into force from February 2026, when Home Office–funded taxi journeys for asylum seekers will be heavily restricted after a review of costs incurred under existing arrangements. Under the new rules asylum seekers will no longer be automatically entitled to taxi rides for hospital or GP visits. Instead they will be expected to use public transport such as buses where that is reasonably available. Government figures cited in the announcement place the annual cost of taxi transport for asylum seekers at about £15.8 million. Some of the journeys previously provided were reportedly long and expensive. AmonThe government plans to end most taxi travel for asylum seekers attending medical appointments, replacing it with public transport and tightening Home Office oversight.g the cases unmasked by investigative journal...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Back to school chaos: first day of term report as Burnham faced the Commons

Emelia Wild | September 1, 2026

Andy Burnham addressed the House of Commons for the first time as Prime Minister as MPs returned to Parliament. How did he do at the dispatch box and

Silly season is coming to an end: What to expect from Westminster this Autumn

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | August 27, 2026

September and October usually mark the most intense period of political activity in the UK, here is what to expect.

Andy Burnham’s social media strategy faces questions over traditional media

Mace Magazine | August 26, 2026

The former Downing Street communications chief believes “there are hard truths coming” for Burnham.

Industry Watch: John Gill, Deputy Director of External Affairs, Reform UK – “There’s no limit to where a man can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit”

Mace Magazine | August 20, 2026

John Gill's promotion at Reform UK, just before the party launches its inaugural Business Day at its September NEC conference, is indicative of how the party is ramping

Carry on, Clacton

William Cash | August 18, 2026

Wiliam Cash reflects on how the myth of Clacton and its reality has created media distortion when it comes to reporting on Farage’s seaside spiritual HQ.

The Clacton by-election: “It has been amazing for business” 

Ella Beadman and Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | August 10, 2026

Ahead of the Clacton-on-Sea by-election this Thursday, Mace went to the constituency to hear what local businesses make of the media circus that has descended on the seaside town, and the changes they want

Burnham is trying to fix Whitehall, but will the political machinery change?

Mace | August 7, 2026

Andy Burnham is shaking up government with more changes than by any incoming prime minister in memory. But, asks Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, does he understand why the

FGS Global acquires Washington government affairs agency

Mace | August 7, 2026

FGS Global has acquired Washington, DC-based government affairs firm Rich Feuer Anderson.

Racing the sunset: a pilgrim odyssey across a dying Europe

Mace | August 4, 2026

For 10 months, ex-army officer James Jeffrey trekked 3500 km across Europe by foot. The scale of migration he witnessed may not have been as dramatic as the

Leader in Public Affairs: Grace Pritchard, Downing Street Director of News and the Prime Minister’s Political Spokesperson

Mace | August 3, 2026

After heading the Makerfield by-election comms team, Grace Pritchard was singled out by Andy Burnham as being a key part of his northern campaign team. The self-styled 'Yorkshire