Hols chaos could have been avoided

IT is staggering that thousands of Scots could have their summer holiday plans ruined because of a passports fiasco.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that, after the privations of Covid lockdowns, most people would be desperate to get away.

Yet no provision appears to have been made to ensure everyone could get their passports in time this summer.

Some have missed out on special moments they would have cherished forever.

Shaun Campbell and Fiona Cox had to cancel their wedding in Turkey because Shaun’s passport hadn’t arrived in time.

He also missed out on a stag break in Brussels with his mates.

And it is not just a matter of receiving a passport in time.

Those who have been sent documents at the last minute have already been caused considerable stress and anxiety by the uncertainty.

But it really should not have come to this.

The demand for passports should have been foreseen and the authorities and contractors should have made sure people who applied in time did not miss out.

Unions have slammed job cuts for leaving staff under pressure and criticised out-of-date IT.

It all adds to the kind of avoidable mess we’ve become used to in Tory Britain.