David Mellor faces taxi ban after expletive-ridden trip to the Palace

Mr Mellor called a driver a “sweaty, stupid little s**t” during a row about the route he wanted to take following a visit to Buckingham Palace with his partner who had just been awarded a CBE.

Unions representing taxi drivers hit back, saying it had echoes of the Plebgate row.

The London taxi branch of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said it was to consider a formal boycott of the former Tory minister.

General secretary Mick Cash said: “It is no surprise that our black cab members across London are considering a boycott of the Tory toff David Mellor over his outrageous, pompous and disgraceful tirade against one of their colleagues.

“His sneering and snobbish verbal assault says it all about the elite that run this country and their attitude towards the working classes that they expect to transport them.

“Taxi drivers have a tough enough job already, dealing with ill-conceived and damaging regulations handed down by the mayor Boris Johnson, confronting illegal touting and navigating around the congested streets of London and at least the Mellor tirade has poured some light on the kind of aggravation our members experience day in and day out.

“To subject a taxi driver to a volley of aggressive abuse, and threatening to use his position to name the driver on his radio show, is frankly disgusting and intimidating and has distinct echoes of the Plebgate row. RMT is in consultation with our taxi members over the possibility of a boycott of this obnoxious and abusive character.”

GMB professional drivers branch president Simon Rush called for a public apology from Mellor, adding: “Whatever the reason for this loutish verbal attack on a working person by this politician, it is unacceptable behaviour, not only on the road but in any workplace. This is not the first time we have seen arrogance and conceit from Mr Mellor. A public apology from Mr Mellor is in order.”

“It doesn’t seem to matter how long you have been a fully qualified and experienced taxi or private hire driver, some of your passengers think they know better than you do.

Mr Mellor, who had accompanied his partner, VisitEngland chairman Viscountess Penelope Cobham, to an Investiture ceremony with the Prince of Wales, was heard in a mobile phone recording given to The Sun.

He told the paper the driver, who is not named but is described as a 38-year-old from south east London, had provoked him.

“This man seriously provoked me and ruined a wonderful day,” he said.

“Once I had lost my temper, which I regret, he then secretly recorded me. I will leave the public to judge his actions.”

The paper reported that Mr Mellor accused the driver of not taking the quickest route to their destination in east London during rush hour.

He also said: “You’ve been driving a cab for 10 years, I’ve been in the Cabinet, I’m an award-winning broadcaster, I’m a Queen’s Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine?”