Budget: Rolling VED exemption brought back in.

[JPB]

It was 26 years before New Labour stopped it in its tracks and now it's 41 years. Technically, like.

[kstrutt1]

My elan +2 was 1 year away from exemption when I bought it I didn't worry about it at the time thinking it would only cost me 1years tax, it has been on the road ever since costing over 3 grand, almost as much as the car cost!

[Martin Evans]

I wonder if Ed gets the keys to number 11 next year, will he balls it up and do a Brown

[rich.]

he will have to find the money somewhere....

[Martin Evans]

I sent the following to the Labour Party. It has been acknowledged. I tried not to give away on which side of the fence I stand.

Following the 1997 General Election, Gordon Brown wasted no time, in curtailing the historic road tax concession, for historic vehicles. Until recently, entitlement to the concession was based on a fixed date of 31 December 1972.

The rolling entitlement has now been reinstated at forty years old. Would a future Labour government let things stand as they are, freeze entitlement, as it did previously or would it consider withdrawing the concession altogether?

I will post any further replies.

[rich.]

great idea, martin next time ask them if tony has found his wmds yet

[Martin Evans]

Speaking of lies, I have a theory that politicians learn to tell lies doing weather forecasts. If they are good at it, they go into politics. Of course, they are in disguise, when presenting weather forecasts; for example I think Gordon Brown may have been Ian McCaskill and Tony Bliar could have been Helen Young. Not sure about Mr Cameron.....we've got our rolling road tax under his watch

[JPB]

Martin, it's not the 40th year. Its the 41st, just as it was never the 25th under Cuddly Ken but the 26th. Perhaps the Government would be more likely to treat your enquiry with the respect it so richly deserves if you correct that ambiguity rather than waiting for them to dismiss it on such a technicality? It's happening all over, there are eBay sellers with 1975 cars labouring under the same misapprehension and stating that their VED will be free from next year where in fact, that happens (election result and future Governmental plans permitting) in 2016.
My view? Free VED is far too thin a reason for continuing to put up with the present shower of imbeciles in charge but, on the other hand, can anyone say - hand on heart - that they can look at Ed without being reminded of Fraggle Rock?

[Martin Evans]

Once you reach 40 years old, you are in your 41st year. Yes it will depend on at what time of the year the car gets to 40 but a car built on 31 December will effectively qualify, as soon as it reaches 40 years old. I think they will get the gist of it.

[Martin Evans]

I have at last received this reply from the Labour Party. My one observation is that they were not very receptive to representations over this issue, when they were in power. That said, I believe that had much to do with Gordon Brown's personal dislike of classic cars. It remains to be seen whether his protégé has inherited this dislike.

Dear Mr Evans,


Thank you for your email regarding road tax on historic vehicles.


Labour is in the process of developing our policy programme. We are making policy in a different way, giving everyone a chance to play a part by contributing their ideas and shaping our policy. At the heart of this process is Your Britain (http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/), our online home of ideas and policy development, where you can read about the ideas we are developing, and play a part in shaping our policy programme. We would welcome your contribution.


Our Living Standards and Sustainability Policy Consultation (http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/agenda-20 ... nsultation) looks at several issues, including transport. If you have ideas about road tax that you would like to share with us, please make a submission to the consultation. All submissions go forward for consideration by Labour’s Policy Commissions.


You can access all of the policy consultations on the Your Britain website. To download a guide to the Final Year Consultation process, see http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/uploads/e ... _guide.pdf. You can also follow Your Britain on Twitter.


Together we can build a One Nation future for our country that reflects the ideas and values that people share with us. We hope you choose to take part.


With kind regards,


On behalf of the Labour Party