Yahoo News Leave voters could still be given a burgundy passport after Brexit
Leave voters who renew their passport after Brexit hoping for a new blue version of the document may be disappointed to receive the burgundy style.
The first blue passports will be issued from late 2019, but they will be phased in gradually alongside the old burgundy ones.
Anyone who applies for a new passport between late and 2019 and early 2020 will be allocated a passport of either colour and will not be able to choose which one they get, a Home Office spokesperson confirmed.
The detail was revealed as the government unveiled its second batch of no-deal Brexit plans.
Their advise reads: “Passports printed between 30 March 2019 up until the introduction of the new passport design will be burgundy but will not include the words ‘European Union’ on the front cover. This includes passports issued by the Crown Dependencies and Gibraltar.
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“Blue passports will start being issued from late 2019.
“If you renew your passport between late 2019 and early 2020, you’ll be automatically issued with either a blue or burgundy British passport.”
The phased transition is in line with previous changes to British passports, which have been introduced gradually.
A 2017 poll found that 52% of Leave voters thought that dark blue passports should be brought back after Brexit, compared to 16% of Remainers.
Burgundy passports were introduced in Britain in 1988.
UK immigration minister Brandon Lewis confirmed in December 2017 that the navy documents would be making a return, much to the delight of many Brexiteers.
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage responded by tweeting: “Happy Brexmas”.
