Outrage as Britain’s iconic blue passports ‘to be made in France’
2 min read
Brexiteers were left outraged last night after it was revealed that Britain’s new blue passport will be made in France.
The iconic document, which is currently burgundy in line with most other EU states, is set to return to its traditional blue next year after ministers came under pressure to make the symbolic change.
But last night the Sun revealed that the £490m Home Office contract for producing the new passport is set to be handed to French firm Gemalto.
Former Cabinet minister and Brexiteer Priti Patel reacted furiously to the decision, dubbing it “disgraceful” and “perverse” and calling on the Home Secretary to intervene.
She told the newspaper: “This should be a moment that we should be celebrating. The return of our iconic blue passport will re-establish the British identity.
“But to be putting the job in the hands of the French is simply astonishing. It is a national humiliation.
“I would urge Amber Rudd and the Government to look again at the powers they have to see what they can do.”
Sir Bill Cash, chair of the influential European Scrutiny Committee, told the Telegraph the move was "completely wrong and unnecessary".
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We are running a fair and open competition to ensure that the new contract delivers a high quality and secure product and offers the best value for money for customers.
“All passports will continue to be personalised with the holder’s details in the United Kingdom, meaning that no personal data will leave the UK.
“We do not require passports to be manufactured from the UK. A proportion of blank passport books are currently manufactured overseas, and there are no security or operational reasons why this would not continue.”
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