Brexit: UK Passports

Lord Lee of Trafford Excerpts

Thursday 29th March 2018 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Lee of Trafford]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date they intend to introduce new United Kingdom passports; and what will be the status of existing passports after 29 March 2019.

[The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams of Trafford) (Con)]

My Lords, when the UK leaves the EU, the current burgundy design will be issued without reference to the European Union, and a new “Brit blue” passport will be introduced from late 2019. Existing UK passports conform to all requirements for international travel documents. There is no reason for a country to refuse to accept UK passports, nor indeed is it in their interests to make it harder for British travellers to enter their country.

[Lord Lee of Trafford (LD)]

I thank my fellow Traffordian for that Answer. Exchanging a passport granting access to 28 countries for one allowing access to only one, and paying £500 million for the privilege, must go down as one of the worst deals in history. Could we not be allowed to choose the colour of our own new passports? If we were, I would chose black, as Brexit is a black day for this country and a black day for future generations.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Well, from young Trafford to Old Trafford—