What on earth is this about?
 

Suddenly all our numberplates become invalid for driving outside of UK/Ireland! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265

Ah yes, our wise government decided to include NI in the sticker/badge requirements! I would think that anyone with the GB and Euro stars would have have to change anyway?

Saw a similar article earlier today about this and one of the 'theories' was it was partly due to the ****-up with Brexit and the imposition of the Irish Sea Border, and it was the government's way of 'showing' support for the people of Northern Ireland.

Now whether there is any truth in that is debatable, but Northern Ireland has existed as part of the United Kingdom (UK) since 1921, yet despite this, the government have never bothered to notify the United Nations of their desire to change the existing GB designation (since 1910) for vehicles in the UK, which begs the question, why now?

This may seem like sheer lunacy on the government's part (then again...!) to some people, but the history of Northern Ireland has resulted in many people who would not be seen dead with a GB sticker on their car. Personally, I wouldn't want to display a GB sticker but that's because I'm pedantic because NI isn't part of GB (but is part of the UK).

It's nothing more than yet another expense for the motorist who travels abroad because they now need to buy UK stickers, and for some/many, they will also have to replace their number plates that have GB, England, Scotland or Wales designations on them, as I doubt it will be lawful to just cover them with some tape.

As an aside, I can't recall the last time I saw a foreign vehicle displaying any country designation sticker on my travels either here in the UK or Ireland, and always had to rely on the number plate to identify where they came from.

Probably the only country that will care will be France - any chance to extract cash from British drivers! :tuttut:

Good old £3.99 magnetic 'UK' badges coming to a Halfords near you soon.....

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...te-543846.html

I don't think anyone will need to cover old EU/GB blue patches on existing plates - they just won't have any meaning to the Gendarmes most likely to 'take offence' at non-compliance.

I'm sure as hell not coughing up for new plates for the S5, which displays the blue Euro/GB patch, even if I do ever drive it to the continent again (it's been to France and Belgium before)

Sean, I was always surprised that our Olympics Team was Team GB and not Team UK, as I think it includes athletes from NI.

On an aluminium car..... :tuttut:

Other versions are available :D

'Cling'
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...er-543838.html

Stick
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...er-543830.html

A Department for Transport spokesperson said:
 

"Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation" :ROFL:

Literally only a century later! :tuttut:

Well, having worked in the Civil Service, I know they don't like to rush things. ;)

Spent some time working in and driving about Germany in my late teens....in a two tone Toyota Tercel estate (remember those?!)...with the white steel rims too :ROFL:

I left sunny NI with a GB sticker on the boot lid and headed off to Germany. Within 2 days of arrival I was pulled over by the friendly Polizei. On discovering I had a Northern Irish driving licence it was suggested that I remove said 'offensive' sticker from my car.

Turned out I was working in a part of western Germany flattened by the RAF during WWII and anti-GB feeling was still running high in the early 90's.

Switched my 'profile' to Irish/Northern Irish....which included an 'IRL' sticker sent over in the post from back home......applied to car and never had another moment of trouble for 3 months.

Strange.
I have driven consistantly in Germany since 1958 and with a GB sticker permanently attached

No problem until the IRA situation when we had to stop using British Registrations and start using German ones.

On a similar (but anti-German...) vein, I remember my French teacher telling us that the boys sometimes had to remove their blazers on school trips to France, Belgium and Holland in the '50s and even into the '60s, as it reminded the locals of the Nazi eagle* from WW2.

Memories die hard sometimes.

(*revived by Trump recently....:mad:)

Some people never let go of the bad ones.

I agree. Being based over there and travelling throughout West Germany in the 80's - with a GB sticker, never had an issue with any locals.

Unfortunately you can find bigots in all places if you look hard enough. Anyway I enjoy the stickers on the rear of my cars, especially the BMW one as I can get through town quicker! https://youtu.be/XKH5Gd92k74