Blue British passports to be restored from October 2019, the Government announces

[-:Undertaker:-]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/519254...passport-back/

BACK AND BLUE: UK to get its iconic dark blue passport back in stunning Brexit victory for The Sun

The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, enforced on the nation from 1988

BRITS will get their iconic dark blue passports back after Brexit, ministers announce today — in a stunning campaign victory for The Sun.

The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, enforced on the nation from 1988.

Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said: “One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport.”

From the first day of Brexit, March 29 2019, burgundy-coloured new passports will still be issued, but no longer with any EU insignia on them.

And five months later in October - when the current passport manufacturers’ contract expires - all new British passports will be issued in the dark blue colour that was once famous across the globe.

In a second victory for The Sun’s determined 17 month campaign, the Home Office has also decided to hand over blue passports early.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage often held up his European Union passport during the Brexit debates

At the moment, new passports can only be applied for once 10 year long current ones expire.

But in a special dispensation, any British citizen will be able to request to a new blue passport even if their old burgundy ones have many years left to run.

Revealing the decision, Mr Lewis told The Sun last night: “I recognise that for many people who voted in that referendum, they want to see things that are different.

“One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport.

“So from the first day we leave, new passports will look different and within five months they will be very different, because they will be dark blue again.” The cabinet minister added: “We wanted to return to the dark blue passport because we recognise the string attachment people had to it”.

The Sun also reveals the design for the new blue passports’ front page today.

The Royal (British) Coat of Arms will sit on its front in gold.

Inside pages will be adorned with patriotic background scenes from all four corners of UK.

The new blue passports will also be one of the most secure travel documents anywhere in the world.

A raft of cutting edge security features and technologies are being built into the design to guard against fraud and forgery.

They include polycarbonate pages, a double set of photos of the holder so they can be cross referenced, and a biometric microchip

The "Old Blue" passport was introduced in 1920 as the Imperial passport of the British Empire - which is why Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and many other countries all to this day still have a black/navy blue passport.

Six years later the League of Nations — forerunner of the United Nations — described the elegant British design as "perfection itself".

But in 1981 — eight years after we joined the EU — Brussels demanded all member states should have a "European" passport within four years.

Britain resisted strongly until 1988. We were the last of the then EU nations to go burgundy.

The govt has said that passports are going back to blue. This is good news for Leave voters - 46% with an opinion chose blue as their preferred passport colour pic.twitter.com/AcOZ7Z4hA4

— YouGov (@YouGov) December 21, 2017

Excellent news!

It just so happens that my passport expires in 2021 so I wouldn't have to wait long anyway but i'll be requesting a new blue one as soon as they come out. For patriotic reasons but also because my passport is pretty tatty atm!

Thoughts?

[FlyingJesus]

Oh thank god for that it's been plaguing me for years, every time I go abroad I cry shamelessly because I so desperately want a different colour passport

[-:Undertaker:-]

Oh thank god for that it's been plaguing me for years, every time I go abroad I cry shamelessly because I so desperately want a different colour passport

In all seriousness though, symbolism *does* matter. The European Union knew this which is why it made us have a uniform colour, with the words 'European Union' being placed above the name of our country. They didn't do that on a whim, it was done for a reason.

[Lill-MeeDK]

Omg think of all of them that wants new passport, you will have to wait for aaaaaaaages if you want it to request the blue one, thinking of how long they are to make it in Denmark.

But here’s I am, also a little bit jealous, I want a blue one too (((((

[scottish]

I already have a British passport.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The PM shared a graphic today showing the new passport, so that Royal Blue colour (not Navy) does appear to be the new shade.

The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation. That's why we have announced that the iconic #bluepassport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019. https://t.co/pgQvrBIna5

— Theresa May (@theresa_may) December 22, 2017

And a history of the British passport...

This morning we announced the return of the blue #British passport after #Brexit. Watch how our passport has changed over the last 600 years. https://t.co/XgYbUBogwV pic.twitter.com/iwPiGdS3AQ

— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) December 22, 2017

[FlyingJesus]

Could just get a passport jacket lol can have whatever you like on that

[dbgtz]

real victory there
doing something that couldve been done this whole time

what a waste of breath and such a non issue

while i dont really have the time to post in this area of the forum anymore, i really enjoy how much you seem to focus on tiny "victories" like this, ignoring stuff like how david davies or w/e his name is has lied countless times about the reports
or how some of the now produced reports seem to just be c+p from wikipedia
or that your "phase one" didnt even pass the HoC
or how india hints at no trade deal without relaxed immigration rules
or just northern ireland issues in general
and have you even considered gibraltar?

"One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport."
who the hell has ever said that and even if so, why would they be say that when our passport essentially gets weaker from leaving

what a joke

[scottish]

real victory there
doing something that couldve been done this whole time

what a waste of breath and such a non issue

while i dont really have the time to post in this area of the forum anymore, i really enjoy how much you seem to focus on tiny "victories" like this, ignoring stuff like how david davies or w/e his name is has lied countless times about the reports
or how some of the now produced reports seem to just be c+p from wikipedia
or that your "phase one" didnt even pass the HoC
or how india hints at no trade deal without relaxed immigration rules
or just northern ireland issues in general
and have you even considered gibraltar?

"One of the most iconic things about being British is having a British passport."
who the hell has ever said that and even if so, why would they be say that when our passport essentially gets weaker from leaving

what a joke

do you honestly expect any better though honestly? :p

But yeah, could have had a blue passport all this time, the UK govt at the time opted into the standard format (another EU state already has a blue passport).

the blue passport was imposed on us anyway and wasn't our decision (league of nations imposed it in 1920)

interesting read:
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...dy-passport-eu
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a8124526.html

load of shit as normal.

[-:Undertaker:-]

@dgbtz; @scottish;

Whilst in theory the colour was a 'choice', the burgundy EU passport was adopted on recommendation of the European Union in line with the harmonisation of EU flight and border controls. In 'theory' the UK could block other EU harmonisation at the Council of Ministers. But that is in theory, which would reverse integration in the EU so wouldn't of happened. In other words, we're no longer bound by this resolution: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...1X0919:EN:HTML which is what taking back control was all about. We get to decide these simple things without having to consult foreigners.

The real issue in all of this was not even the colour, it was the words 'EUROPEAN UNION' stamped across the top of the passport - meaning it was not a British passport, but a European passport which gave 500m odd other people the same right as you and I to enter this realm. This change in passport ultimately symbolises the end of hated EU Freedom of Movement. Hurrah.

This habitual thinking among Remainers is a potentially important barrier to Remain/Return prospects. Difficult to understand or engage those you want to persuade while calling them irrational and inexplicable to confirm your own tribe's self-image as modern and rational. https://t.co/F5NXaeWFDA

— Sunder Katwala (@sundersays) December 22, 2017

Other symbolic changes that I have already noticed that have pleased me have been in my own city. EU flags I noticed have disappeared from Liverpool's buildings and apart from outside the Council offices I literally cannot think of any that still fly.

while i dont really have the time to post in this area of the forum anymore, i really enjoy how much you seem to focus on tiny "victories" like this, ignoring stuff like how david davies or w/e his name is has lied countless times about the reports
or how some of the now produced reports seem to just be c+p from wikipedia
or that your "phase one" didnt even pass the HoC
or how india hints at no trade deal without relaxed immigration rules
or just northern ireland issues in general
and have you even considered gibraltar?

Why can't I focus on little victories as well?

I'm really pleased with progress so far. A50 is counting down. We're leaving the Customs Union and Single Market. Phase One of the negotiations have been concluded. A transition period (time limited) in which to sign FTAs has been agreed. The Great Repeal Act has passed the House of Commons with the government winning all but one of the amendments. We're leaving the Fisheries Convention and EURATOM. It's all progressing really well and in line with what I have always wanted.

Phase 1 doesn't need to pass the Commons and for that reason hasn't been put to a vote there, if India doesn't want an FTA with us then that is fine as we don't *need* one, Northern Ireland will require customs checks and as well Gibraltar. What's your issue?