Forum Topic

The farce of the new blue UK passports

The Daily Mail made a great song and dance about this:
But now it's emerged that not only are the things being designed in France and made in Poland, they're not even blue: they are actually black! As someone wrote on Twitter: “Wait till they find out about the ‘freedom of movement’ part.” Actually, Brexiteer Tory PM Bob Stewart has already found out and is furious — because “Our two French-speaking dogs cross the Channel several times a year on a pet passport" and won't be able to after December 31st. Pity the fool didn't think of that first... https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/bob-stewart-on-pet-passport-scheme-after-brexit-1-6703548

Richard Carter ● 2121d17 Comments

Don't worry, the nodding dog on the rear parcel shelf will not need a passport.

Michael Winstanley ● 2121d

Personally I'd drive there. But Richard's got the answer. 

Andy Pike ● 2121d

Don't worry about this, Lucille, it's just a rather lame joke implying that I only ever travel anywhere by bicycle.

Richard Carter ● 2121d

What's wrong with Eurostar and train journeys, Andy? How is my daughter expected to get to Wales to take her kids to see the inlaws? By shanks's pony? Or should we all stay at home to save the planet?

Lucille Grant ● 2121d

Hello Michael, "Stop press. The UK's Bluetooth tracing app is being abandoned if favour of a new one based on a Google/Apple base ...where's that world beating test and track system?" Where indeed! 

Ivonne Holliday ● 2121d

Unless you can cycle to Europe I'm sure you wont be going Richard. After all you  dont like planes and would see thousands unemployed in Hounslow, ferries are not green. I suppose you could take the tunnel but again not very green. Ah well nothing wrong with staycations though you dont get much luggage room on a bike.

Andy Pike ● 2121d

It was a serious question in the HoC on 16 June (https://bit.ly/2Na9Y0J):Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): "Our two French-speaking dogs cross the channel several times a year, Mr Minister, on a pet passport. On their behalf and on behalf of all other dog owners ... who take their dogs abroad on a pet passport, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether similar arrangements will be in place after 31 December?"Michael Gove: "Yes, I completely sympathise with my hon. Friend and many other responsible pet owners. In my previous role as Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, we worked on arrangements in order to ensure that travellers could take their pets abroad when they are visiting the EU and vice versa. If I may, let me say this: nous défendrons toujours les droits des chiens."So there we have it: Gove and Stewart are more concerned about the rights of dogs than of those of humans.

Richard Carter ● 2121d

Peter Bone's not all bad. Back in April (I thought it was earlier than that) he asked at PMQs when Raab was standing in, why banks were allowed to pay savers zilch while charging distressed borrowers through the roof. Of course, Raab batted it aside with no answer.I emailed Bone saying well done, or words to that effect, and he replied thanking me and saying he'd keep up the pressure.I guess he's a bit of an oddball, doesn't expect preferment  so feels free to speak his mind.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2121d

Hi Michael.  I agree about the nurses.  A bursary scheme for student nurses needs to be reinstated, and the requirement to be a graduate dropped. The necessary qualifications to make a good nurse are a good basic education, common sense, empathy and compassion.

Sue Hammond ● 2121d

This power grab using so called "Henry VIII" powers shiujld be of concern. I suspect this is really being done because Johnson and his nodding dog cabinet are so disorganised, incompetent and are rushing negotiations through that they want the flexibility to adjust things quickly at a later stage when they discover what they've messed up or forgotten. Personally, I'd trust the experienced, competent Europeans more ... Given the way others who've been seriously affected by Covid-19 take a while to recover I would imagine Johnson is finding parliament difficult 🙁Stop press. The UK's Bluetooth tracing app is being abandoned if favour of a new one based on a Google/Apple base ...where's that world beating test and track system?

Michael Ixer ● 2121d

Sue. I agree with you that the colour of my passport does matter much, going through my old 35 mm photos of France, Italy, Greece, Germay, etc I am sad I'm losing my visa travel freedom to Europe (I'm guessing a no deal Jan 21); Ms Felicity as a 20+ year old cat doesn't have much need of a pet passport but I know some dog owners who saw this aspotentiually a major problem ... in one case relocating to Spain to avoid it. But if the deal for student nurses can be renaged  on, I'm sure repainting the PM's plane could have been postponed (unless it's an integral part of some other routine maintance). I think its appalling the way the student nurses are being treated.https://actionnetwork.org/forms/student-nurses?source=facebook

Michael Ixer ● 2121d

Is Bob Stewart really furious?  Or was he simply being satirical?  Or did he say it to wind up the Remainers and create a maelstrom of outrage?  Is there a predictable Twitter storm going on?

Sue Hammond ● 2121d

Correction - the MORE said the better! Loudly and often!

Peter Evans ● 2121d

I agree with you Richard, it is a complete farce.  A black/blue passport made in the EU...  The least said the better. As for THAT Tory MP and the pet passports, well, another least said the better?  I agree with having pet passports but passports that allow the UK citizens equal free movement is far more important.  And I agree with you Michael.  The repainting of the PM's plane is ridiculous if not unnecessary and shame on them all for treating the student nurses so badly and with such disrespect.  Another least said the better?  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2121d

More critical analysis of where we are in this article written from an admittedly pro-European stance:https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-magic-disappears-over-handling-of-brexit-and-coronavirus-1-6706570What ought to concern all of us is Peter Bone (the arch-Brexiteer) who has complained in parliament about the PM’s efforts to avoid parliamentary scrutiny and to announce new policies to the nation on TV rather than in parliament. I might just be agreeing with him for the first time ever but the anti-democratic presidential style leadership is not right and it’s not going to work much longer. Underlying these criticisms is the nagging concern that the PM is not well, is suffering from the after-effects of the virus and, having surrounded himself with mediocre poodles, is not even getting quality advice.  With the twin crises of Covid and Brexit we should all be very worried.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2121d

The old passport was more black than blue anyway, and to be honest the colour doesn't really matter.  Personally I would prefer it to be Royal purple or dark green. The most important thing is that the words European Union are gone and replaced by British Passport. The PM's plane was due to be repainted anyway and I think the proposed new paint job looks fab.  However I am sure it could be done for considerably less than £900k!

Sue Hammond ● 2121d

Yes, its difficult to imaged someone voted for an idiot like that. "Brexiter outraged about loss of freedom of movement for his pet!" Looking at my pre EU passport, I always thought it was black so I was puzzled that people wanted to return to blue passports. Anyway, shouldn't they be red, white and blue like? Just like the PM's plane that nearly £1M has been spent on repainting - but they cancelled the contracts of the student nurses contracts who gave up study and other job prospects to help on the Covid front line. That's a good way to value the, public clapoings a lot cheaper when the PM's plane needs a coat of paint 🙁  

Michael Ixer ● 2121d