MP fears damage to UK’s reputation
Political Editor THE decision to manufacture new postBrexit passports in France has been condemned as a “massive blow to the reputation of British business”.
Blaydon MP Liz Twist spoke out after it emerged the contract to manufacture passports is to be awarded to Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto – rather than a plant in her North East constituency.
The UK is to move back to traditional navy blue passports after it quits the EU in March 2019. They will replace the burgundy passports currently used in line with other EU countries.
It’s been seen by some supporters of Brexit as an important symbol of British independence. But there is anger at reports that the new passports will be manufactured in France.
Gateshead firm De La Rue currently holds the contract for producing UK passports, worth £490m over 10 years, but says it missed out in the battle to win the contract to produce the new designs.
Ms Twist said: “This is devastating news for my constituents who work at De La Rue and a massive blow to the reputation of British business. At such a defining moment in our history, this sends out completely the wrong message and will reduce our standing in Europe and the world.”
She added: “At a time of heightened international security, it is downright ludicrous to think that our new passports will be produced abroad. After months of talk about the return to blue British passports, the irony of this decision isn’t lost on me or my constituents.”
The Labour MP also spoke in the House of Commons to demand Home Secretary Amber Rudd give a statement explaining the decision.
And Gateshead MP Ian Mearns also condemned the decision, telling the Commons: “It’s interesting that the French Government circumvents the procurement rules for manufacturing of passports, stating security as a reason to keep production in France.”
De La Rue boss Martin Sutherland said it was “disappointing and surprising” that “this icon of British identity is going to be manufactured in France”.
He said: “I think we have heard over the last few weeks and months ministers more than happy to come on the media and talk about the blue passports and the fact that the blue passport is an icon of British identity.
“Now this icon of British identity is going to be manufactured in France.”
Mr Sutherland said his firm had been producing passports for the UK for the last 10 years “without a single hiccup” but had been “undercut on price” and would appeal against the decision. Referring to the Gateshead staff, he said: “I’m going to have to go and face those workers, look at them in the whites of the eyes and try and explain to them why the Government thinks it’s a sensible decision to buy French passports, not British passports.” Conservative pro-Brexit MPs are also angry. They include Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, who said the decision 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 in 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.” Government sources say awarding the contract to Gemalto will save taxpayers £120m, according to reports.