Getting the rolling tax exempt status restored
Conservative policy on classic cars
A query was raised by Richard Groves on the V8BB on Tuesday 25th November as a posting on the Pre-Budget Report thread - "Does anyone know the Conservatives' policy towards classic cars and tax exemption? I think that at one time they said they would reinstate the rolling 25-year exception date but given that they are now the "green" Conservatives I wonder if this is still the case? As the mass-market British motor industry effectively ended with the death of MG and Triumph in the BL era, why not leave the exemption date fixed but bring it forward 10 years to 31/12/1982? This would encourage the preservation of many more low value classic cars that might otherwise be scrapped. Just a thought. Oh, and I won't be voting Labour at the next election . . . . ."

The following afternoon Chris Hunt Cooke set a new thread running on the Conservative policy on classic cars saying "Pulling on my FBHVC hat, I can say that we have been lobbying them for a commitment to reintroduce the rolling basis, even if not on a 25 year basis, then perhaps on 30 years. George Osborne passed the matter swiftly on to a junior shadow minister, Justine Greening, from whom we have not yet heard. We understand that in seeking to appear totally responsible, orders have gone out to all Conservative spokesmen that any policy they put forward must be revenue neutral, which is a bit of a stumbling block, in addition to our probably not very green image. If anyone cares to write to Justine Greening urging on her a policy of rolling tax exemption, that can only help. The more politicians believe this would be a popular measure, the better."
Well Nigel Melbert decided he would ask David Cameron's office the question and the following afternoon he emailed the V8 Webmaster with the prompt reply he had received. It is set out alongside.

Angus Rennie noted in his posting "The V8BB certainly gets results. I do hope that the FBHVC will welcome that news and when quoted in print will mention the V8 Register was able to get the information in less than a day through the timely action of our member Nigel Melbert!"

Rob Collier noted "An excellent and prompt response from the leader of the opposition's office, well done Nigel Melbert! Perhaps interested parties such as the FBHVC, classic car clubs and enthusiasts should approach Robert Goodwill MP in a coordinated effort?"

Bryan Shacklady felt "that genuinely suggests they have been looking at it, which is interesting. They couldn't have just concocted that one on the hoof. "

Chris Hunt Cooke was clearly pleased saying "Many congratulations to Nigel Melbert on writing and on getting such a speedy response. I agree with Bryan Shacklady that it really does seem as though they were looking at this, as they knew the history of the matter and had some statistics readily available. Here's hoping!"
V8BB posting: 26 November 2008 @ 17:22
Following the thread on the V8BB yesterday, Nigel Melbert thought that he would ask the Leader of the Opposition for the Conservative view on Road Tax exemption so he sent off an email enquiry below:

What is the Conservative Party's policy on Historic/Classic vehicles? Gordon Brown in his early days as a 'stealth tax' chancellor froze the rolling 25 year exempton for these vehicles from the date of 31/12/1972. Will the Conservative party reinstate this exemption to help preserve the Classic British vehicles?

He received a prompt reply from Lara Moreno Perez in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition as follows:

I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for your email about the tax exemption for vintage vehicles.

We believe that it is of genuine importance to our country’s culture and history to preserve our classic car heritage, and we would like to acknowledge the dedication of members of historic car clubs, car owners and enthusiasts. We understand that interest in classic cars is worth £1.6 billion to the UK economy and results in the employment of around 25,000 people. As you may be aware, it was the last Conservative Government which introduced a nil Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rate for cars over 25 years old, with a “rolling exemption” provision. It was in Gordon Brown’s 1998 Budget that the Government terminated the “roll-over” provisions without any announcement or consultation. Robert Goodwill MP, the Shadow Roads Minister is developing a Roads Green Paper in which he is looking at a broad range of issues relating Britain’s roads. I know that the road tax of historic vehicles is on his agenda, and I will make sure that he is aware of your views.

Thank you, once again, for writing.

Well this is quite encouraging for the classic car movement and V8 enthusiasts in particular.
Who is Robert Goodwill MP and does he have a feel for classic cars?
Robert is the Shadow Roads Minister for Transport on the Conservative front bench and a staunch Eurosceptic with a commitment to restore vital powers back to this country reinforced by his spell in Brussels as a Conservative MEP. He represents the area of Scarborough and Whitby and was elected in 2005.

Robert's passion is his steam traction engines and his "Sentinel" steam lorry which can be seen at many local steam events sporting its "Keep the Pound" livery. So here we have an MP with practical experience of farming in Yorkshire and someone who has a passion for classic vehicles so he should at least be able to understand the feelings and needs of the UK classic car movement .
V8 Register - MG Car Club - the leading group for MG V8 enthusiasts at www.v8register.net