‘No change’ for British passports

THE GOVERNMENT has “no immediate plans” to reintroduce the traditional navy blue British passports in the wake of Brexit.

There have been calls for the old-style passports to make a return, with outgoing Ukip leader Nigel Farage repeatedly brandishing his passport while on the EU referendum campaign trail.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant, who was in favour of Brexit, has urged the new Home Secretary Amber Rudd to reintroduce the old blue passports.

In a parliamentary question he asked: “If she will take steps to introduce a new passport with a navy blue cover for the UK following the exit of the UK from the EU; and if she will make a statement?”

But Home Office Minister Robert Goodwill said: “There are no immediate plans for changes to the format or colour of the UK passport.

“Parliament will be informed of any changes to the passport following UK withdrawal from the European Union.”

The blue passports were introduced in 1921, but in 1988 they were replaced by burgundy UK passports in the European Union style format.

Some travellers have used blue covers to try to disguise their modern passports as old-style British ones.