# Labour accused of 'surrendering' to private parking firms > Labour faces backlash after rejecting lower parking ticket caps, costing drivers up to £1.6 billion. - Title: Labour accused of 'surrendering' to private parking firms - Summary: Labour faces backlash after rejecting lower parking ticket caps, costing drivers up to £1.6 billion. Labour ministers rejected lowering parking ticket caps… - Keywords: labour, parking, ticket, cap, private firms, cost, drivers, news, entertainment, accused, 'surrendering', private - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16223933/Labour-accused-surrendering-private-parking-firms.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-10-20T14:38:06+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: labour, parking, ticket, cap, private firms, cost, drivers, uk, news, entertainment ## Labour accused of 'surrendering' Labour accused of 'surrendering' to private parking firms after ministers rejected bringing in a lower cap on tickets. > Labour accused of 'surrendering' to private parking firms ## Ministers rejected lower cap Ministers rejected bringing in a lower cap on tickets, costing drivers up to £1.6 billion. > ministers rejected bringing in a lower cap on tickets ## Prime Minister Andy Burnham praised rules Prime Minister Andy Burnham led a chorus of praise for new rules aimed at getting tough on 'cowboy' private firms. > Prime Minister Andy Burnham led a chorus of praise for new rules aimed at getting tough on 'cowboy' private firms ## Existing cap on fines The existing cap on maximum fines is £100 for parking violations. > The existing cap on maximum fines is £100 for parking violations ## Critics point out existing cap Critics pointed out this was already the existing cap and ministers rejected lowering it to £80. > Critics pointed out this was already the existing cap and ministers rejected lowering it to £80 ## Discount options Forcing private firms to offer drivers a 50 per cent discount on parking tickets paid within 14 days was also dismissed. > Forcing private firms to offer drivers a 50 per cent discount on parking tickets paid within 14 days was also dismissed ## Current discount rate At present, motorists only get a 40 per cent discount for paying within the time period. > At present, motorists only get a 40 per cent discount for paying within the time period ## Ticket numbers increased The number of parking tickets issued has increased to almost 14.4 million a year, a 148 per cent increase since 2019. > The number of parking tickets issued has increased to almost 14.4 million a year, a 148 per cent increase since 2019 ## Tory shadow transport minister criticism Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said 'Labour must think we’re fools' over the overhaul. > Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said 'Labour must think we’re fools' over the overhaul ## No independent appeals process Ministers also faced criticism for failing to bring in an independent appeals process. > Ministers also faced criticism for failing to bring in an independent appeals process ## Current appeals process At present, drivers who want to appeal a ticket must challenge it with one of two bodies funded by the private firms themselves. > At present, drivers who want to appeal a ticket must challenge it with one of two bodies funded by the private firms themselves ## Critics say appeals are unfair Critics say this means drivers are less likely to win appeals and amounts to the industry 'marking its own homework'. > Critics say this means drivers are less likely to win appeals and amounts to the industry 'marking its own homework' ## No ban on debt collection The new measures failed to ban debt collection sharks from hounding motorists for unpaid tickets. > The new measures failed to ban debt collection sharks from hounding motorists for unpaid tickets ## Another consultation planned Instead, yet another consultation is to be launched next year into the issue. > Instead, yet another consultation is to be launched next year into the issue ## Impact assessment reveals savings The impact assessment revealed introducing an £80 cap and 50 per cent discount option could have saved drivers up to £1.6 billion. > The impact assessment revealed introducing an £80 cap and 50 per cent discount option could have saved drivers up to £1.6 billion ## Ministers rejected savings option Despite this, ministers rejected it, claiming reduced revenue may lead to firms hiking parking charges. > Despite this, ministers rejected it, claiming reduced revenue may lead to firms hiking parking charges ## Alternative savings option Reducing the cap to £80 but keeping the existing 40 per cent discount option would save drivers around £1.1 billion. > Reducing the cap to £80 but keeping the existing 40 per cent discount option would save drivers around £1.1 billion ## Tory proposal Before losing the 2024 general election, the Tories had proposed capping tickets at £50 - half the current cap. > Before losing the 2024 general election, the Tories had proposed capping tickets at £50 - half the current cap ## Howard Cox criticism Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said 'Labour has bottled it' and 'this isn't a crackdown on rogue operators; it's a surrender to them'. > Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said 'Labour has bottled it' and 'this isn't a crackdown on rogue operators; it's a surrender to them' ## Private car parks growth The number of private car parks has mushroomed from about 10,000 in 2012 to almost 50,000 today. > The number of private car parks has mushroomed from about 10,000 in 2012 to almost 50,000 today ## Key takeaway Labour ministers rejected lowering parking ticket caps despite potential savings of £1.6 billion for drivers.