Brit firm drops appeal on blue passport deal

THE company that makes UK passports has dropped its appeal against a Tory decision to print them abroad after Brexit.

De La Rue launched a legal fight after ministers gave the £490million contract for the new blue ID papers to Franco-Dutch outfit Gemalto.

It sparked an 8% plunge in shares at the Gateshead firm and leaves staff fearing for their jobs. After De La Rue scrapped its planned judicial challenge, Unite national officer Louisa Bull branded it a “dark day for UK manufacturing”.

She added: “This news will come as a bitter blow to De La Rue workers who now face an uncertain future. “Workers will feel let down that the company is not prepared to fight the Government’s decision to

GOING ABROAD New passport

ship the production of the new blue passport overseas.”

De La Rue boss Martin Sutherland said: “It looked unlikely we would get this overturned on a technicality. It looks unlikely to us it will get overturned politically.” A spokesman for the firm added: “Having considered the legal and commercial implications of pursuing legal action, we have concluded it is not in the best interests of the company to proceed with an appeal.” As well as the shares drop, De La Rue also warned profits could slump by around £10million through loss of the passport contract.