News1 min ago
Good News - Blue Passports Comming Back.
81 Answers
http:// www.bbc .co.uk/ news/uk -424432 53
Pity they'll not also be the old size too!
Pity they'll not also be the old size too!
Answers
The main thing to get in a spat when it comes to passports is not their colour or size (though I must say I liked the old blue hardback versions). The size will not change because, quite understandab ly, most countries adhere to a standard size so that they can be read by machine. No, the main thing which I will celebrate is the disappearanc e of the words...
11:21 Fri 22nd Dec 2017
Oh, come on.
Theresa May (or whoever writes for her) has posted the following on Twitter:
"The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation. That's why we have announced that the iconic #bluepassport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019."
What a load of sentimental drivel this is. There is nothing "iconic" about the blue passports, it has been drummed up out of nowhere in a few months by teary-eyed people who are obsessed with the past. And it's not even true. The colour of our passport has nothing to do with independence - as jno says, the old design was introduced by LoN and the EU does not enforce passport decorations.
This is manipulative nonsense. What a joke.
Theresa May (or whoever writes for her) has posted the following on Twitter:
"The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation. That's why we have announced that the iconic #bluepassport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019."
What a load of sentimental drivel this is. There is nothing "iconic" about the blue passports, it has been drummed up out of nowhere in a few months by teary-eyed people who are obsessed with the past. And it's not even true. The colour of our passport has nothing to do with independence - as jno says, the old design was introduced by LoN and the EU does not enforce passport decorations.
This is manipulative nonsense. What a joke.
Of course the new passports will comply with various “shapes and sizes” regulations agreed with both the EU and other bodies. It makes sense to have a common format recognised across the world. That is not the issue. For me, the words “”European Union” at the top of the cover and the first page of UK passports are totally superfluous. There is no reason whatsoever for them to be there. The argument that they are there to enable border staff in EU countries to recognise those who need no visa is ridiculous. Border staff should be trained sufficiently so that they can recognise the entry requirements (or at least have access to a schedule of them) for each nation whose citizens they are likely to encounter.
The words were put there for one reason and one reason alone. A passport is a powerful token of citizenship and the words were embossed on passports as the first step to instilling in the peoples of Europe that they are no longer citizens of their country but instead of the EU. The next step will be to relegate the names and emblems of the individual nations to the bottom corner as a prelude to removing them entirely.
This whole issue is something that those who are happy to remain in the EU simply don’t get. They are happy to see their nation subsumed into an amorphous characterless blob occupying that bit of the map just north of Africa; they are happy to see all of the individuality of their nation gradually eroded; they are happy to be governed by unelected civil servants. It’s not about the colour or the shape of our passports. It’s about a symbolic gesture which reiterates the idea that the majority of people who voted eighteen months ago chose to leave the EU because they want no part in a European Superstate.
The words were put there for one reason and one reason alone. A passport is a powerful token of citizenship and the words were embossed on passports as the first step to instilling in the peoples of Europe that they are no longer citizens of their country but instead of the EU. The next step will be to relegate the names and emblems of the individual nations to the bottom corner as a prelude to removing them entirely.
This whole issue is something that those who are happy to remain in the EU simply don’t get. They are happy to see their nation subsumed into an amorphous characterless blob occupying that bit of the map just north of Africa; they are happy to see all of the individuality of their nation gradually eroded; they are happy to be governed by unelected civil servants. It’s not about the colour or the shape of our passports. It’s about a symbolic gesture which reiterates the idea that the majority of people who voted eighteen months ago chose to leave the EU because they want no part in a European Superstate.
Whilst in practical usage terms the colour isn't relevant, I'm sure all, even those who choose it deny it, know it is symbolic of the break ftom EU control, and a return to self government. It is naive to deny the importance of symbolism. We're getting a changed passport anyway, why not differentiate it from the one used commonly in the EU ?
“...all together now "There'll always be an England, la di da di dahhhh"”
Indeed there will, Andrew. And a Scotland, a Wales and a Northern Ireland too. But I don’t share quite that level of confidence when it comes to the European Union.
“NJ....Of course, you are right.....it is only a "symbolic gesture"”
Indeed it is, Mikey. But a very powerful one which I appreciate you may not understand.
Indeed there will, Andrew. And a Scotland, a Wales and a Northern Ireland too. But I don’t share quite that level of confidence when it comes to the European Union.
“NJ....Of course, you are right.....it is only a "symbolic gesture"”
Indeed it is, Mikey. But a very powerful one which I appreciate you may not understand.
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.