Council leaders in Leeds are under pressure to consult the public on the potential sale of the Lord Mayor’s iconic car number plate, “U1.”
Owned by Leeds City Council for over 120 years, the plate, believed to be worth more than £500,000 was the first ever registered in the city following the Motor Car Act of 1903. It was gifted to Arthur Currer Briggs, then Lord Mayor, by Rowland Winn, a founding member of the Automobile Association.
Faced with a £100m budget shortfall next year, the Labour-controlled council is considering the sale as part of its asset disposal strategy. However, Conservative group leader Alan Lamb has called for a public consultation, citing the plate’s historical significance.
“It’s not right to sell it without consulting the people of Leeds,” said Councillor Lamb. “It’s akin to selling off the family silver without checking with the rest of the family.”
The sale of “U1” would be classed as a “key decision,” given its significant financial impact. If approved, the council would appoint a private dealer to handle the transaction.
Councillor Lamb has urged the council to incorporate the sale into its broader consultation on budget savings. “If, on balance, the public thinks it’s right to sell, then fair enough. But we should at least be giving people a chance to have their say.”
Leeds City Council acknowledged the historic and symbolic value of the plate but emphasized the “acute” financial pressures it is facing. The outcome of this decision could determine whether a piece of Leeds’ heritage is preserved or leveraged to address the city’s fiscal challenges.
