Feeling blue

What is the price of national pride? Apparently it is £50 million. That is the reported difference between the only British bid, by De La Rue in Gateshead, the current manufacturer of British passports who produce passports for 80 countries, and the French company, Gemalto, who are said to have won the contract to supply the new blue and gold colour passports in 2019. De La Rue will no longer produce passports for Britain.

Laughably, the idea of changing the colour was to signify Britain taking back control. I thought April Fools’ Day had come early this year. Yet the British passport will be manufactured in France.

It is a disgraceful decision and needs to reviewed urgently. It is not only Brexiteers who will be furious about this, Remainers should be angry as well. This government is yet again failing to put this country and its workers first and is now selling part of our national identity off. GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square, Perth