End of the road? UK number plates may be axed

EU plans to change 110-year-old British licence plates and replace them with “common colours” and ID tags.

17:39 10 April 2014

The European Parliament is considering proposals, which could see the end of 110-year-old British licence plates and see them replaced with “common colours” and ID tags. 

 

The plan, which has been met with fierce debate, raised concerns that Europe could force all licence plates to carry the EU flag at a time when Britain’s membership in the EU is being questioned. 

 

Last night, Tory MEPs called the plans “idiotic.” 

 

Meanwhile, motoring groups disagree as well as they fear that it will cost them a lot to replace existing plates with a new design. 

 

Syed Kamall, leader of Britain's Conservative MEPs, said he would be fighting the plan 'all the way'. 

 

'We aim to keep our number plates just as they are, thank you.

 

He added: 'You can bet your life the common design would incorporate the EU flag. The eurocrats have failed to force us to put their symbol on our sports shirts or to fly it above our public buildings...now they are trying make it compulsory on our cars.' 

 

'Most British motorists want British number plates - not European ones.'

 

Getting support from a large numbers of MEPs, the plan is said to be “more likely” to become a law. 

 

The document states: 'The Commission should consider whether the cross-border trade in and free movement of vehicles could be further increased by introducing safeguards against fraudulent use of number plates and by equipping vehicles and their number plates with identification tags.' 

 

'The Commission could also consider whether the obstacles faced by citizens and businesses when transferring their vehicles from one Member State to another could be further offset if there were a possibility of equipping their vehicles with number plates in common colours.'