Brexiteers’ blues over passports contract shows free trade only works one way

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 £490 million contract to Gemalto, which is based in France, and is now to appeal the decision. The British company has admitted its bid was not the cheapest. Indeed, the new deal could save the tax- payer £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 that 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 will therefore 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 per cent of De La Rue revenue comes from overseas and it supplies passports to more than 40 countries. However, some 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 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. Some Brexiteers clearly need to wake up and realise that we are living in the 21st century and not the 19th.

ALEX ORR Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh

As the tide for the Scottish fishing industry’s chances of ever taking back control over our waters flows out I mention one other reality check reported on that very afternoon of Mrs May’s big speech last month and inexplicably ignored since then.

The PM affirmed that contracts (that include our shipbuilding) will continue to open-tender and without state aid. I was so bitterly disappointed. If there was one dream Brexiteers deserved it was to see the end of Caledonian Macbrayne’s larger ferries being built in Germany and Poland. What exactly is Brexit for? RODERICK BRODIE

Duff Street, Dundee