m Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group

Group Chair Discusses Historic Vehicle Issues with New Roads Minister

Jan 2024

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group, Sir Greg Knight MP has had discussions with the new Roads Minister Guy Opperman MP. The pair discussed the contribution that the historic vehicle movement makes to the British economy and also exchanged views about a number of other issues of concern to the historic vehicles’ movement.

Pictured are Roads Minister Guy Opperman (left) and Sir Greg Knight MP.

Group Hold 2023 AGM - Officers Re-elected.

March 2023

East Yorkshire MP Sir Greg Knight has been re-elected unopposed as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group at Westminster at their 2023 AGM.

The Group was founded by Sir Greg to support the interests of historic vehicle owners and promote the continued use and enjoyment of classic vehicles. The group regularly makes representations over forthcoming legislation which might affect older cars.

Austin Healey-owning Labour MP Mark Tami was re-elected as Vice Chair.

Following the AGM the group made a visit to ‘Studio 434’, one of the most extensive privately owned classic car collections in the UK.

Classic Motor Show Visit

November 2022

Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group, Sir Greg Knight MP visited the NEC Classic Motor Show with Group supporter, Auctioneer Derek Mathewson. During the visit, Sir Greg discussed the future of classic cars with David Whale, Chair of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and afterwards visited many of the club stands.

Sir Greg said that the show, organised by Lancaster Insurance, was "very impressive."

Pictured at the Classic Motor Show are, left to right, Auctioneer Derek Mathewson, Stephen Lewis, David Whale, Rt Hon Sir Greg Knight MP, Blair Jacobs and Andy Bye.

50th Anniversary of the National Motor Museum celebrated

July 2022

Hundreds of cars from the 1970’s gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu this month. Our chairman, Sir Greg Knight, represented the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group at the event and toured the display of cars first registered in 1972 which were on display.

The host, Lord Montagu, commented ‘it’s been quite a trip back in time’.

At the end of the celebrations, Lord and Lady Montagu cut a cake which was shaped as a 1930 Bentley 4.5 litre.

Also on display was a 12 horse power Daimler car built in 1899 which was the first ever motor vehicle to enter the precincts of the House of Commons.

Pictured at the event in front of the celebratory ‘Bentley 4.5 litre cake' are, right, Sir Greg Knight MP, Chair of the APPHVG with journalist Steve Cropley (left) and journalist Mark Dixon of Octane Magazine (centre).

REPRIEVE FOR TRACTOR ROAD RUNS

April 2022

Charity tractor runs and ploughing matches have escaped being axed and will be able to continue to use red diesel fuel following representations to the government against a proposed ban. The move has been “warmly welcomed” by Sir Greg Knight MP chair of the All- Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group.

‘Red’ diesel, used on farms and in industry, attracts a much lower rate of duty than the ‘white’ diesel, sold on garage forecourts for road use. However, legislation changes, due to be implemented on 1st April this year, would have banned the use of red diesel in vehicles for events such as tractor runs, tractor displays and ploughing matches.

As it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for farmers to drain off their red diesel and refill with the higher-taxed white diesel for a road run, the rule change would have effectively killed off all tractor road runs from taking place in future.

However, following representations from members of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group and others, the Treasury has relented and now new guidance means that tractor runs, shows and other charitable activities that benefit or promote agriculture will be allowed to continue to use the fuel.

Sir Greg says: “This change of heart is to be warmly welcomed as the original proposals would have effectively killed off all tractor runs, which are very popular in rural areas, and would also have hit many charitable shows which raise much-needed funds for worthwhile causes.”

Scrapping of ‘Vnuk’ Insurance Law Nears

February 2022

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group Sir Greg Knight MP has welcomed the progress of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill, which scraps the ‘Vnuk’ ruling on car insurance.

Vnuk is a 2014 European Court of Justice ruling on the case of a Slovenian farmer, Mr Vnuk, who was knocked off his ladder by a reversing tractor on a farm.

The ruling, made whilst the UK was still in the EU, directed that compulsory motor insurance must be extended to include vehicles being used on private land, as well as a greater range of vehicles – potentially including those used in classic motorsports, all agricultural machinery and even ride on mowers and golf carts.

Government analysis on amending the Road Traffic Acts to ensure compliance with the case revealed the cost of implementation could be around £2 billion and it would have added £50 per annum onto UK motorists’ insurance premiums.

The Bill to scrap the Vnuk implications has now successfully completed its passage through the House of Commons, backed by Sir Greg and members of the All Party Group.

Sir Greg, who was a member of the special Committee scrutinising the Bill, said: “This is good news indeed. The Vnuk case is not only a threat to the pockets of all British drivers who stood to suffer an insurance premium hike but also to classic motorsports, which would have seen many events wrecked by unreasonable insurance requirements”.

The Bill now looks highly likely to pass through Parliament and awaits consideration by the House of Lords.

Concerns over ‘Inaccurate and Inadequate E10 Warnings’

September 2021

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group Sir Greg Knight MP has warned the public to be very careful if they drive an older vehicle to not use ‘E10’ fuel without first checking on their vehicle’s compatibility.

The MP is warning the public to exercise ‘extreme caution’, before using the E10 fuel and he points out that it is not just owners of historic cars who may need to avoid using the new blend.

The Department for Transport (DFT) has approved E10 petrol as the standard 95-octane petrol grade from 1 September 2021. The introduction of E10 is an environmental move, intended to reduce the fossil fuel component of petrol and therefore by blending renewable bioethanol, reduce CO2 emissions.

The DFT is also requiring the continued availability of a ‘Protection grade’ lower ethanol content E5 fuel for older vehicles, as they are not compatible with the higher ethanol content of E10. The ‘Protection grade’ fuel will, from September 2021, be higher-octane 97+ ‘Super unleaded’. Its availability will be guaranteed for 5 years, when it will then be reviewed by the Government. Sir Greg is criticising the “obscure and vague warnings” that have been given over incorrect E10 use and has raised his concerns with the government.

The MP also challenges the accuracy of the advice being given on the ‘online gov.uk E10 compatibility checker’ website. Despite being informed by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP that the website was ‘already up to date and will be accurate’, Sir Greg says he does not accept the precision of the site and criticises the poor visibility of the data being issued by the government.

He points out that the compatibility checker suggests that vintage Vauxhall cars and also those built in the 1950’s and 60’s are all compatible with E10 fuel, together with 1950’s and ‘60’s VW ‘Beetles’ and apparently every BMW ever built,

Sir Greg warns: “The Government needs to be clear, high-viz and accurate in their messaging. This has not happened”.

The MP says that the low-key and sloppy warnings may result in the owners of many incompatible vehicles erroneously using E10. “Problems are unlikely to be immediate but the continued use in older engines could cause severe damage by the higher ethanol fuel. “E10 is unlikely to cause instantaneous damage to older cars and they may appear to run well in the short term. However, ethanol can destroy seals and numerous components, so anyone in the slightest doubt about the compatibility of their vehicle with this new blend of fuel should only fill up with E5.

The MP also cautions against the use of E10 with older machinery, including tractors and farming and garden equipment. He points out that many machines used for gardening are used seasonally and therefore could be at greater risk of suffering damage after lying dormant with E10 in their tank. The East Yorkshire MP says, “Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water, so clearly the longer an engine is left standing idle, the more of a problem this could be, with moisture in the fuel adding to potential issues.”

“The government is undertaking some advertising concerning the use of E10, but the advice needs to be far more explicit and precise than we have seen so far, with candid warnings against its use in incompatible vehicles and machinery.”