Personalised number plates are a special self-inflicted tax on the vain.
I've no idea how politician's minds work, so I couldn't really say what strategy would be likely to work.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 13:59, archived)

Actually what's worse than personalised number plates
is number plates in fancy fonts, which are illegal, and silver and black plates on non-vintage cars, which is also illegal.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 14:01, archived)