Britain issues post-Brexit passports… before actually leaving the EU

Britain has put in for yet another Brexit delay, but it seems nobody has told the Home Office. New British passports are already being sent out with a cover omitting any reference to Brussels whatsoever.

Amid ongoing political chaos over how and when the UK will actually leave the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May this week asked for another membership extension until the end of June. This means that the UK is currently – and will be for the foreseeable future – a member of the EU. The Home Office, though, is clearly done with all the dallying and ready to move on.

READ MORE: European leaders unimpressed by May’s Brexit extension request

Alarmed and “furious” Twitter user Susan Hindle Barone shared a photo of her new British passport alongside her expiring one to show the key post-Brexit cover change (even though the UK is not quite yet post-Brexit).

In an apt reflection of the ongoing Brexit chaos, another British citizen replied to that tweet by showing that their new passport still bears the ‘European Union’ membership note on its cover.

Apparently, the Home Office is not simply hedging its bets on the UK’s EU withdrawal, though, with officials telling the Independent that the remaining stock of passports bearing the ‘European Union’ cover will still be issued as the newer post-Brexit ones are phased in.

The passport service has clarified that regardless of what the cover says, both designs are equally valid for travel for British citizens.

There was a mixed reaction on Twitter to the early introduction of the new cover design, with some people absolutely delighted to be rid of any mention of the EU on their passport, and others alarmed to see the first concrete signs of Brexit.

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