Romford MP in call for return of the Great British blue passport
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell calling for urgent action - Credit: Archant
Bring back the blue British passport, is the latest campaign taken up by Romford’s MP.
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has called for a return to the old blue passport - Credit: PA WIRE
Andrew Rosindell was delighted when Britain voted to leave the European Union in June and has now joined calls for the blue passport to return as a sign of Britain’s independence.
The blue cover was updated to burgundy in 1988. The new look passports also began to have European Community – now European Union – embossed on the front.
Mr Rosindell told the Recorder the campaign was a question of restoring the nation’s identity.
He said: “It’s about returning to the classic British passport.
“I remember when it changed and people were very upset. I still have my blue passport somewhere at home.”
Mr Rosindell was keen to stress that reverting to the blue passport would not impact on residents’ freedom to travel.
Most Read
- 1 Hornchurch ranked top place in UK for takeaway fish and chips, study finds
- 2 Several hectares of Rainham grassland destroyed in fire
- 3 Man threatened and robbed of iPhone and bank card at Romford station
- 4 Road closures in place after Romford flat fire
- 5 Appeal to find missing girl, 16, with links to Romford
- 6 Launch events held for businesses targeted at the ‘more mature raver’
- 7 'What about vulnerable people?’: Couple protest parking ticket from Gallows Corner Tesco after alleged ‘double dipping’ issue
- 8 Buckman backs Clarke to make mark with Romford Junior Raiders
- 9 Harold Hill landlord accused of housing tenants in unsafe property
- 10 London among areas where drought is declared
He said: “The blue covers would show that we have a special status, but it doesn’t alter how we could travel. The only difference would be that we would be travelling on a British passport.”
Mr Rosindell would also like to see the European Union flag removed from licence plates and British embassies around the world.
He said: “It’s about national identity, and we need to have one that reflects that we have left.
“I think there are a lot of things that could be changed.
“We can make our own decisions now, and can take down the EU flag in embassies. We could fly another flag instead, maybe for the Commonwealth.”
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said: “There are no immediate plans for changes to the format or colour of the UK passport. Parliament will be informed of any changes to the passport following UK withdrawal from the European Union.”
