Passport renewal delays lead to fears over risk to holidays

SUMMER holidays are at risk for millions of people because of “shambolic” passport delays, MPS have warned.

The Passport Office has blamed a surge in demand, with five million Britons putting off renewing documents during the pandemic.

Adding to the pressure, post-brexit travel rules require UK citizens to have at least three months validity remaining on their passports.

The Commons heard yesterday that a new 10-week processing target was routinely being breached.

Stephanie Peacock, the Labour MP for Barnsley East, raised the case of a mother who submitted her daughter’s passport application in January, more than five months in advance of their holiday next week, but has yet to receive one.

Ms Peacock told MPS: “What is the minister doing to address the unacceptable delays in passport applications?”

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, said ministers would examine the case, noting: “That’s a very, very unusual delay, there must be a problem.”

Home Office minister Kevin Foster said: “We would advise people that this is a virtually unprecedented surge in demand. If people are planning to travel abroad this summer, we would advise them to get their application in as soon as possible”.

But Tory MP Simon Hoare described the passport backlog as “foreseeable”.

The North Dorset MP added: “I hear what the minister has said. Certainly my constituents are telling me their experience is either really very good or it is an absolute shambles.

“But I agree with what the member who raised the question in the first instance said. There needs to be a better interface between Members of Parliament and the Passport Office when those constituents, either for family funeral reasons or for holiday or business reasons are not getting through and are then being lied to by officials when they do get through.

“Something needs to be done to arrest this and quickly.”