Fly The Flag

After eight years of utter confusion, national symbols on UK number plates are finally legal. An amendment to the 2001 regulations means that drivers across the UK can, at last, legitimately display the English, Scottish or Union flags - as countless motorists have been doing since promised under the original legislation.

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, which coincided with the introduction of the 'new-style' registration system [beginning with the '51' marks], specified the use of the European Union circle of stars and the letters 'GB' as the only alternative to plain front and rear plates. Proposed options allowing national flags have not been ratified until now.

In addition, Welsh drivers - or, indeed, anyone wishing to mark such affiliation - can display their cherished red dragon emblem. Whilst not technically a flag, the symbol has sparked the most controversy where the police have apprehended drivers who had, unwittingly, jumped the gun. In line with existing bi-lingual legislation, the permitted definitions on Welsh plates are both 'Wales' and 'Cymru'.

Paul Murphy, Welsh Secretary of State said "I hope the red dragon will now become a familiar sight across Wales and beyond as motorists take the opportunity to display their Welsh pride on their plates." And Mr Murphy plans to officially endorse the new plates by displaying them on his ministerial car in the near future.

In an all too predicatable twist, however, these provisions are sufficient only in the UK. Motorists deviating from the standard Euro design will still need to display the tried and tested oval GB sticker if they wish to drive on the continent.

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