The whole thing's a piss take. Road safety my arse, there have been at least 12 crashes in the first four days of the new test - all on the avoidance manoeuvre.
Test didn't need to be any more challenging, what should have happened is the introduction of mandatory post test training for all road users. Most road users seem to think that holding a licence is a right rather than a privelege and think that they can just switch off as soon as they have passed their test. At the risk of sounding like a boring old fart (I'm not, really) driving/riding should be about constantly updating your skills and knowledge, not just carrying on regardless. It really pisses me off when I get experienced drivers coming for training and I have to teach them what should be fairly basic roadcraft.
CBT is currently undergoing it's 4th (I think) review and will probably be updated in 2010, hopefully with the inclusion of a requirement for theory test.
No point writing to your MP, as the DSA is THE world's most arrogant organisation, who firmly believe that people are crashing (and being seriously hurt) through either their own fault, or the fault of their instructor.
If the new test wasn't enough to put some people off learning to ride, then the negative publicity about it certainly will.
The HSE are allegedly now getting involved, so anyone wishing to do a test should do so sooner rather than later as I can see HSE suspending all testing pending a full enquiry.
Finally, I apologise for hijacking this topic, good luck with your next test, speed requirement is pants)
