Boris appears to back London's cabbies in a row over a pocket-sized rival

Boris Johnson appears to be backing London's cabbies in a row with his transport chiefs over controversial 'taxi apps'.

The mayor believes the smartphones used minicab firm Uber are 'effectively a meter'. If the mayor is right, Uber drivers could be breaking the law.

But Johnson's verdict contradicts the view held by bosses at Transport for London who granted Uber a Private Hire licence.

The decision infuriated the black cab trade and led to a series of protests where cabbies blockaded parts of central London

TfL wants the High Court to give a ruling but the case has been delayed by a decision by the cabbies' union, the LTDA, to launch a private prosecution against four Uber drivers.