Confused – is it free trade or protectionism?

Sir, – It was with much hilarity that I noted the gnashing of teeth by some Brexiteers when the existing manufacturer of British passports lost the tender to a Franco-Dutch supplier.

The company, De La Rue, lost the £490m contract to Gemalto, which is based in France, and De La Rue is now to appeal the decision.

The British company has admitted its bid was not the cheapest. Indeed, the new deal could save the taxpayer £100m to £120m and 70 new jobs would be created in the UK, at sites in Fareham, in Hampshire, and Heywood in Lancashire.

The irony of all this is that while many Brexiteers project a vision of a Britain buoyed by free trade, it seems this is okay when British companies secure overseas contracts, but woe betide those overseas companies who secure contracts in the UK. Even if they are cheaper and save the taxpayer money.

It appears we are free trade when we win, but protectionist when we potentially face losing.

A strange interpretation of free trade.

It should also be noted that 80% of De La Rue revenue comes from overseas and it supplies passports to more than 40 countries around the world – although Brexiteers strangely don’t seem to be complaining that these passports are not being printed in their own countries of origin.

The De La Rue debacle has more than a whiff of hypocrisy about it.

It also further highlights the narrow British nationalism of some Brexiteers who see a world where the UK has a God-given right to “win” and where a large portion of the globe is still coloured pink.

These Brexiteers clearly need to wake up and realise that we are living in the 21st Century and not the 19th. Alex Orr. Flat 2, 77 Leamington Tce, Edinburgh.

A correspondent questions the hypocrisy behind protests at the new blue post-Brexit British passport, left, being manufactured outside the UK.