UK firm ends blue passport appeal

British passport maker De La Rue has ditched its appeal against the government’s decision to choose a Franco-dutch company to make the new post-brexit passports, and revealed a £4 million hit from its failed bid.

Basingstoke-based De La Rue said it had “considered all the options”, but would not challenge the move, which will see the £490 million contract handed to Paris-based Gemalto. The government has come in for criticism for its decision to choose a European firm for the contract.