Bah, bad luck.
If you'd just used the gaffa tape you would have a MoT by now!
True but id also have curse word off the tester. He is a stickler for the rules and doesn't like utilising what he would call loopholes such as that one. I am sure it would have taken phonecalls to VOSA and them ordering him to for it to have happened.
I use him though because he is fair with the tests and will sort out little things without charging but nothing slides. Last year he failed one of mine cause id missed a clip on the solid brake lines tapped it back in place fully then issued the green ticket. It did make me chuckle because it seemed rather a waste of paper.
It also never ceases to amaze me how much more I can see to do on a car when its above my head on a ramp than when I'm under it on stands.