The 'official' line I heard on Radio 4 this morning was that it was the uneven playing field that had got them riled up, and that minicab operators were also fuming because they had been restricted from operating in this way too,

But you're right, the individual cab drivers probably just want competition outlawed.

>> they seek to disallow novel technology that would make their fare structure less opaque.

FYI - In London the fare structure is not opaque, it's set out on a notice in every Taxi and the meter is set up and sealed by TFL.