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MG Midget and Sprite General - Classic road tax petition

don,t know if anyone has covered this.

I was sent this from my local car club and can't be a bad thing to get them to move the current free tax forward from 1st jan 1973.
Would benefit a lot of us, so if you agree please sign up .

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/historiccartax/
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

These petitions only initiate a parliamentary debate. Be careful what you ask for; if debated, they are just as likely to abolish the concession all together!
Guy

mines a 1977 so nothing to lose
mark (1977 1500 Midget) Preston Lancs

Oh I don't know about that Mark. Perhaps all pre-cat cars should pay a double road fund licence?
Guy

And it demolishes the premium price of pre 73 Spridgets!
Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

Sadly, I have to agree with Guy, they are more likely to do that - or something worse!

Mind you, it might stop the cost of a MGB V5 costing more than some restoration projects ......!
rachmacb

Here is the correct link:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/2622

Well I have signed it.
Simon Taylor

I think that it is far more likely that inviting a debate on this will lead to something negative for the classic car movement, such as a scrapping of the current pre-1973 exemption, or even increased tax on cars lacking modern emissions kit. I have also heard discussion of limiting the current exemption to cars that were out of production by the time the exemption came in, which would immediately rule out many current cars - including Spridgets other than the Mk1 Sprite.

The classic car lobby is weaker than the environmental lobby, overall, in terms of both influence over central government and sway over the population as a whole. Add to that the fact that we are in a major global recession and this is, in my opinion, a terrible time to invite parliamentary discussion of classic road licence. There is no vote-winning potential in giving further concessions to classic car users, but there is vote-winning potential in introducing many measures that would be very unpopular among members of the classic car movement.

We must be careful not to put short-term self-interest above the wider needs of a hobby that is only going to come under more pressure as time passes.
Piers Colver

Hi Piers,
Good to hear from you again. Hope the renovations have progressed well! ;-)

You put much more eloquently the point I was trying to raise in my earlier post. There seems to be a misapprehension that calling for a debate by this online system will generate the outcome that is being promoted. But all the system actually guarantees is that the matter will be debated in parliament. The outcome could well go against the aspirations of those that seek the debate in the first place. And in this particular case, I can very well imagine that happening!

On another negative point, I also think that the procedure could divert parliamentary time to discussing relatively fringe issues when they should be concentrating on the important ones! It only needs 100,000 votes and that really isn't very many at all when all you have to do is click a computer button.
Guy

Hello guy,

Yes, thank you, renovations are taking longer than anticipated (largely as we have decided to make the work rather more major than first anticipated, it is always the way..!) We have finished sufficient chunks of the interior, now, that we are living in (relative!) comfort in half the house, which is a lot better than we were a few months ago. Have also taken the plunge and started work on burying a 2000 litre LPG tank under the garden as part of the new central heating system (we previously had an old surface-mounted one). Unfortunately we are having to dig into limestone bedrock in order to get the hole deep enough...sigh...

Plus I have been rather preoccupied with a new business venture which has now settled down a bit more - always a steep learning curve at the beginning of a new endeavour, I guess.

I checked in on BBS a few times, but each time I did there seemed to be a more argumentative tone than there used to be, which I confess made me look elsewhere for relaxation, but I have resolved to 'not let the buggers get me down' and become more active again.

Anyway, back to subject, I think that we agree entirely on the road tax thing, this is a time of prioritization and we must all be realistic. Thank you for the kind feedback on my summary of some of the issues, but at this point I ought, I feel, to confess to an unfair advantage - from university I spent ten years working in Whitehall, mostly MoD, so spent a fair bit of my time drafting notes for Mandarins and Ministers outlining the pros and cons of various policy proposals. I left five years ago to go into business for myself, but ten years of anything is bound to leave a mark! So on both the drafting of such issues, and on the prospects of having the result go the way signatories would wish, I have, perhaps, something of an inside track.

I agree with your 100,000 point, too - there is even a chance that that very point turns some neutrals against us. Timing is everything, with politics.

Anyway, how are you? How's the car? Done much to it since Spridget 50 - I recall I had a little alloy wheel envy!!

Mine has a new set of painted wires, now running 145s instead of 155s - I prefer the handling, more predictably entertaining to my mind, and has eradicated some rear wheel arch rub I had, and I am, of course, now sporting a very nice rear badge, courtesy of your contact. As we suspected, the finish/colour he achieved has given it a nice period look, does not look too new and show up the rest of the car!

It's good to be back.

Piers
Piers

I absolutely agree with Piers and Guy on this one. Least said, soonest mended. And with Piers' insider knowledge of government procedure, I think it's well worth heeding his words. Keep yer 'eads down lads.

Bernie.
b higginson

"the finish/colour he achieved has given it a nice period look, does not look too new"

As I recall, that is a kind interpretation of the facts!!!

My other take on the road tax exemption is that the current arrangement is actually the result of a mistake anyway. Well, maybe not literally a mistake, but I suspect that the "Historic Vehicle" category was meant to apply to vehicles used only occasionally for events. London - Brighton and that sort of thing. I believe that when the exemption was set at 25 years someone messed up and thought this would be far more restrictive than it actually was. After all, no one in their right minds would have a 25 year old car for daily use - would they?

When the number benefiting materialised the best they could do was to alter it to a fixed date (1973) rather than the 25 year rolling. Even so there are probably more vehicles even now at nearly 40 years old than it was intended to apply to. I believe the intention was not to tax those taking part in occasional pageants, shows and events, plus genuinely "historic" museum quality examples.

It is extremely unlikely it would now be reverted from 38 to 25 years rolling and I just cannot imagine many, if any, MPs voting for that. The concession would be far more likely to be removed all together.
Guy

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2011 and 26/08/2011

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