British cabbie, 72, left fuming as he’s forced to take £200 English test despite being born here

A VETERAN chauffeur has blasted new rules forcing him to take a £200 test to prove he can speak English.

Alan Welch, 72, said all private hire drivers in London have to do the exam aimed at foreigners when they renew their licence.

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They are even offered English lessons by Transport for London. Alan, who has lived in the capital all his life, said: “Drivers like me have to renew their licence every three years.

“But now we’re given the English test, which is designed for our overseas friends.

“It’s a joke that after decades of working in London we have to prove we can speak the bloody language, and pay £200 every time for the privilege.”

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Transport for London said drivers can avoid the language tests if they can produce old school exam certificates.

But another driver, Howard Rosen, 61, from Elstree, Herts, said: “My school doesn’t exist, the teachers don’t and the body that set the exams probably doesn’t.”

Helen Chapman, TfL’s general manager for taxi and private hire, said: “It’s essential for public safety that all licensed ­drivers can ­communicate in English.”