Good to know that this government (checks notes) isn't interested in 'gesture politics'. Although I fully recognise that this may be important for those of you in Norn Iron. Since Northern Irish number plates are distinctive - and no longer confusible with those in the Republic unless in the old white on black format - it would surely have made more sense to create a new code for them. GBN perhaps? It's not unknown to see IRL plates on Northern Irish cars.
GB plates go back to the year dot, so I'm not clear why Grant Shapps thinks this is suddenly so important. Many classic cars still have their original metal ones affixed, but it appears that if travelling abroad they will now have to have a UK one as well. The AA (who were assured that there wasn't going to be a change) are apparently stuck with fifty thousand GB plates they won't be able to sell - and no doubt the RAC and Halfords (to name but two) have more than a few as well. Edmund King of the AA has pointed out that removing and replacing old GB stickers will just add to plastic waste: "What can you do with a used GB sticker? Maybe Wetherspoons can use them as beer mats, or we can sell them to anyone with the initials, maybe Gordon Brown or Gareth Bale, but that's a very niche market."
Colin Murrell PA0786 (D0285 previously) Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5) http://www.triple-mracing.com/
Who or what body is now dictating the change? As an American, I really don't care, but if this is the desire of the EU, I thought the UK was no longer subject to their whims. And why the change after so many years?
Someone told me Lew that it's 111 years. Certainly long before any of us, and particularly our government who I understand decided, were even thought of. Change for change's sake or to put it his way, "Taking back control".
Just to be clear, country identifier codes are nothing whatsoever to do with the EU. They are in fact overseen by the United Nations. And the decision is entirely a matter for the UK government.
No more GB plates!
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Posted - 01/10/2021 : 22:28:02
