THERESA May has been asked by hardline Brexiteers to explain why the new post-Brexit blue passport will be made in France.
The contract to manufacture the document, which Brexiteers see as a symbol of the UK's regained independence, is set to be awarded to Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto rather than De La Rue's Gateshead plant.
De La Rue boss Martin Sutherland said it was "disappointing and surprising" that "this icon of British identity is going to be manufactured in France".
The move has been condemned by Brexiteers and Sutherland called on the Prime Minister or Home Secretary Amber Rudd to explain their decision to his workers.
Sutherland said the Home Office had confirmed the move to him, although ministers denied the process was complete.
Sutherland said: "I think we have heard over the last few weeks and months ministers more than happy to come on the media and talk about the blue passports and the fact that the blue passport is an icon of British identity.
"Now this icon of British identity is going to be manufactured in France."
Sutherland said his firm had been producing passports for the UK for the last 10 years "without a single hiccup" but had been "undercut on price" and would appeal against the decision.
Referring to the Gateshead staff, he said: "I'm going to have to go and face those workers, look at them in the whites of the eyes and try and explain to them why the British government thinks it's a sensible decision to buy French passports not British passports."
He added: "I would actually like to invite Theresa May or Amber Rudd to come to my factory and explain to my dedicated workforce why they think this is a sensible decision to offshore the manufacture of a British icon."
Sutherland said that his firm was "not allowed to compete for the French passport contract".
The Daily Telegraph reported that Gemalto undercut other bids by around £50 million.
Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, branded the decision "completely wrong and unnecessary".
The tender to produce the passport was put out across the EU under single market rules.
Bill said: "I think it is incongruous to say the least. It is completely unnecessary and it is symbolically completely wrong.
"Whatever the conditions which led to the decision in terms of pricing, the fact is that this is a symbolic event."
Former cabinet minister Priti Patel told The Sun: "This should be a moment that we should be celebrating. The return of our iconic blue passport will re-establish the British identity.
"But to be putting the job in the hands of the French is simply astonishing. It is a national humiliation.
"I would urge Amber Rudd and the Government to look again at the powers they have to see what they can do."
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake told the Press Association: "The blue passport saga is turning into a farce."
Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said the procurement process had not been finalised.
"As I understand it, this procurement is not fully complete," he told Today.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are running a fair and open competition to ensure that the new contract delivers a high quality and secure product and offers the best value for money for customers.
"All passports will continue to be personalised with the holder's details in the United Kingdom, meaning that no personal data will leave the UK.
"We do not require passports to be manufactured in the UK. A proportion of blank passport books are currently manufactured overseas, and there are no security or operational reasons why this would not continue."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel