New government plans to relax the strict MoT testing regime will put lives and jobs at risk in the North West, according to Euro MP Brian Simpson.

Plans being developed by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond would see vehicles undergoing fewer MoT tests, in a move which would threaten road safety and cost jobs in local garages.

Labour's Brian Simpson, who is Chairman of the European Parliament's Transport Committee, said that, "This new scheme would allow cars and vans to spend a full extra year on the road before their first MoT check-up and an extra year between later tests. When you look at the number of vehicles that currently fail their first test, giving them an extra year becomes a highly dangerous idea".

According to statistics from Halford garages, 50% of vans and 20% of cars fail their first MoT after three years on the road and the company claims that extending this MoT-free period to four years could compromise safety. Subsequent MoT tests would be required every second year, in a change to the current system of annual check-ups.

"Under this plan a car would only have four MoT tests in ten years on our roads, which is half the present number required by law. It's a bad move for the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians", added the senior Labour MEP.

"Not only would the changes make our roads less safe, but it would inevitably lead to jobs losses in our local garages if only half the number of tests are needed. I am urging the government to rethink their plans".

Figures from the Retail Motor Industry Federation, who have written to Chancellor George Osborne, claim that 50,000 workers in garages nationwide are directly involved in MoT testing and that the changes would cut the 30 million tests a year in half and thereby put 25,000 testers’ jobs in jeopardy.