Hundreds of minicab drivers have blocked London Bridge in a protest against a congestion charge which they claim will slash their pay.
The demonstration in central London on Monday, which was called by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, claims the charge will cut take-home pay by 25 per cent.
Drivers claim the daily charge of £11.50, which will have to be paid by private hire drivers from April, is a "tax on the poor" and will do little to reduce congestion in the capital.
Yaseen Aslam, of the IWGB, said: "The mayor has refused to engage with minicab drivers who will be pushed into greater poverty by this ruinous tax on the poor.
"London is one of the most profitable cities in the world for operators like Uber, yet it is drivers and their families, not the company, that are being made to bear the costs of fixing up congestion.
"Until the mayor comes to the table and listens to us, we are left with no choice but to further escalate our protests."
Alex Williams, Transport for London's director of city planning, said the changes will help reduce pollution and benefit the health of all Londoners.
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: "The number of private hire vehicles entering the congestion charge zone has shot up from 4,000 a day in 2003 to more than 18,000 now and Sadiq (Khan) simply isn't prepared to ignore the damaging impact this has on congestion and increasing air pollution.
"Toxic air pollution in London is a major public health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children and leads to thousands of premature deaths and increases the risk of asthma and dementia.
"We have to make tough decisions to protect the health and well-being of Londoners and tackle harmful emissions from the most polluting vehicles."
