When we finally leave the European Union, we will revert back to the traditional dark blue passports like the one that James Bond had. My current passport is a rather unpleasant maroon colour, as are all the European ones.
The British government put the making of the new/old blue passports out to tender and the world's largest passport maker - based in Britain - put in a price.
It was undercut by £50 million by a French/Dutch company, so they got the job.
The British government were obliged to offer the contract to the whole of Europe under E.U. law, and go for the lowest under U.K. law. The Dutch/French company moved in for the kill.
I have never viewed H.P. Sauce the same way since it was manufactured in Holland. I think my new passport will leave a nasty taste in my mouth as well.
I wish the UK would exercise a little civil disobedience sometimes.
ReplyDeleteSo do I. If Europe imposed a colossal fine on us for breaking their rules whilst we were still under them, we could simply tell them to fuck off. The French and Dutch would probably rather lose money and get the job, and must be laughing their heads off at our stupidity.
DeleteJust think - all the high-tech security features which all passports have to have these days will be designed by our two most dire historical enemies of the last 300 years. They must be jubilant at how low we have sunk.
DeleteTheresa May will now lose her fragile support by accepting terms concerning fishing rights which are entirely in Europe's favour. She got the support from Scotland on condition she protected fishing rights in British waters.
DeleteAND when we are forced to surrender our old passports and pay for the new one, the money will go to the fucking Dutch and French. The French are currently making plans to reform the E.U. All the proposed reforms will be in their favour, of course, and will set the trend for all the other 27 to pitch-in with their idea of a fairer system. Britain will not have a say in it thanks to the popular vote.
DeleteIt is a great shame that somebody hasn't got the guts to stand up and say let's wait until we are free of the EU and we will print in house, in the UK. What is the hurry?
DeleteThat is weird. Somebody should raise a stink about homeland security if the country were to let the Dutch/French company do British passports. Because outsourcing your own passports to a foreign country seems really stupid.
ReplyDeleteI have an old fashioned, dark navy coloured, leather cover for my passport. Yes, I know....
ReplyDeleteAs for the UK not making their own bloody passports.... I fucking despair.
There was no reason for the UK to change the passport to Burgundy in the first place, they could have retained their traditional colour and not all countries in the EU are burgundy, Germany's certainly isn't and nether is Spain's or Croatia or Latvia do some research will ya ?
ReplyDeleteDidn't know this Tom - all pretty sickening I agree.
ReplyDeleteBest we vote that nice Mr Corbyn into power then we won’t need to negotiate with anyone. Once prime minister he will allow the even nicer Mr Putin to shaft us more than he is doing at this very moment. Anytime now the lamps will be going out all over Great Britain and it will be thanks to our lily-liveried politicians who for fear of being voted out of office just won’t grasp the nettle and say bollocks to the lot of them we are putting our country first.
ReplyDeleteSee my latest post.
DeleteMakes me furious. I think I'd rather be chipped and pinned than have one of the new passports, providing of course it could be done in the UK
ReplyDeleteMy Italian passport is maroon.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
My German passport is burgundy. (Must be printed in France :-) But honestly: I do not understand why they didn't wait in GB to give you the passports you want?
ReplyDeleteMONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY.
DeleteI had to check where mine was printed after reading this. It was considered in Canada but they relented and printed our passports here. If anything should be produced by a country, surely it's their passports.
ReplyDeleteI just upgraded my Mac to Sierra and the title of this post pretty much sums up that experience.