Taxi firm banned from using red poppies
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Swale Borough Council has forced a taxi firm to remove its red Royal British Legion poppy from the bonnet of one of its cars after a complaint.
A sticker bearing the words Lest We Forget has also had to be removed from the rear door of the vehicle.
It has left Neil McLennan, the boss of Sheppey-based iCars, fuming.
He wrote on Facebook: “I find myself, rather shamefully, having to remove poppies and Lest We Forget signs from our vehicles.
“This is not through choice but (because) a complaint (was) made about our vehicles to Swale Borough Council about slogans and advertising on them.
“It is not that we have stopped supporting our fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom, far from it.
“They have been removed because of a complaint.”
He asked his 1,100 followers to complain to the council if they “felt saddened” and didn’t agree with the decision.
Since his post, Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna, who doesn’t drive and is a regular user of cabs, has waded in.
He said: “I have written to Swale Borough Council in support of iCars.
"My team and I have spent the day working with councillors and iCars to support a reversal of this decision.
“iCars do incredible work for the island, providing an important and reliable taxi service for everyone while also offering an invaluable service to people with disabilities.
“They do not deserve to be penalised in this way. I’ll be doing everything I can to help find a fair resolution.”
Council rules are very clear, though.
They state the only words to appear on cabs should be the taxi firm’s name, email address, fax and phone numbers. These should be on the front doors and back of the vehicle only.
They add: “No other advertising, including radio stickers, football stickers or any other signs is permitted.”
Ironically, the vehicle complained about, a new silver Ford Freedom with wheelchair access at the rear, had only just joined iCars’ fleet and had just been fitted with its taxi plates.
Mr McLennan told Sheppey Scene: “The Facebook post is gathering some momentum with councillors, both locally and with Kent County Council, getting involved.
“BBC news and the KM are planning to visit for an interview. I’ve invited (Falklands war veteran) Simon Weston, a friend of ours, to pass his thoughts.”
Mr McLennan added: “It’s sad that we can’t remember the lives of who have fallen while serving our country be they Army or any of the services who work to give us the lives we have.
“I’m not sure what a poppy is advertising, or a small sign showing our support to the services either, but perhaps whoever complained would care to raise his head above the pulpit and let us know.”
Swale councillor Mike Whiting (Ind, Queenborough and Halfway) said he would be taking the matter up with the council.
Cllr Richard Palmer (Reform, Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch), who is a member of the licensing committee and also a Kent County Council councillor, asked on Facebook: “Who has made such a disgusting and disgraceful decision that taxis in Swale cannot display a poppy or Lest We Forget signage on their licenced taxis?”
KCC’s Sheppey representative Cllr Maxwell Harrison (Reform) said he was "beyond disgusted".
He said: “There is nothing either inappropriate, political or offensive about displaying the Remembrance Poppies on these vehicles.
“It is an important and stark reminder of the grave sacrifice so many have given to protect our rights and freedoms.
“Without a shadow of doubt, this is complete and utter overreach from Swale Borough Council and I will be writing to the relevant officials demanding a formal apology to both iCars Swale and all our veterans who are outraged by this.”
He added: “I urge every resident across the Isle of Sheppey to send their thoughts on this directly to the Swale Borough Council Licensing Department. This behaviour cannot be accepted and a public apology must be issued within the coming days.
“I stand completely behind those at iCars Swale in their decision to have Remembrance Poppies on their vehicles. Do you agree with me?”
A spokesman for Swale council said: “Our licencing team has been allowing the use of the poppy and the Royal British Legion sticker on iCars’ taxis.
“However, following a complaint, we checked the use against our policy and it is not permitted under our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.”
He said the policy had been updated and agreed in 2025 by the Labour-led council’s licensing committee and policy and resources committee after a public consultation which included feedback from taxi firms.
He added: “The issue is not about the poppy or the Royal British Legion, which the council supports, but that we received a complaint that the vehicle was not complying with our policy.
“We are aware that iCars has removed the sticker and poppy and we are scheduling a licensing sub-committee meeting to discuss iCars’ request for an exemption from (the) policy.
“The next licensing committee meeting (on October 15) will look at the policy to make sure that there is clarity on this issue.”
The committee last met on August 3.
What do you think?
Comments